The off-season for rugby has provided a few challenges for the Qatar Rugby Federation (QRF) domestically, largely driven by the blockade. However, with this, it has also provided opportunities to engage with local rugby clubs and partners to reassess a wide range of rugby activities for the forthcoming season as well as plot a new direction forward.
The first activity launching this weekend is the newly-reformatted domestic XV’s club rugby competition, ‘The National Club Rugby Championship’. It will run in a league format and will bring together six rugby club teams from across the country. Set to kick off with two matches today, the competition will conclude in March 2018.
Yousef al-Kuwari, President, QRF, said: “I am pleased to announce the launch of the QRF’s 2017/2018 National Club Rugby Championship. Rugby is gaining traction around the world, which has been demonstrated by the inclusion of sevens in the Olympic Games in 2016, and I am delighted that this trend is being reflected right here in Qatar, with the number of teams and players – both local and expatriate – growing in recent years.
“Unfortunately, due to the blockade, travelling options for local club teams to participate in West Asia competitions are currently limited. Part of our mandate at the Qatar Rugby Federation is to focus on and ensure sustainability of the sport, so this competition will give teams across the country the opportunity to continue playing at a competitive level, while, simultaneously, improving the standard and quality of the sport locally,” al-Kuwari concluded.
New to the XV’s club competition this season is the Qatar Camels. Previously, the Qatar Camels won the International Open Men’s title at the 2016 Dubai Rugby Sevens with an impressive display of open, running rugby. Now as part of a strategy for the ongoing player development the team will step up into the XV’s competition. This is sure to test the group’s progress as it will see them compete regularly against Qatar’s best players.
Also entering the league for the first time is Doha RFC’s men’s first XV team – Doha Maroon. A tough squad, last season, they placed second in the West Asia Premiership behind the eventual winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, having been the only team to beat the Abu Dhabi giants all season. Doha RFC’s other teams include the Doha Vets and Doha Gold – the men’s second XV – whom narrowly lost 27-30 to the Blue Phoenix in the championship final of QRF’s 2016/2017 XV’s club competition. With such depth across the competition this year, the Blue Phoenix will be tested as they try to retain their crown as champions.
Alex Natera, Doha RFC’s Head Coach, said “We are delighted that the QRF has come up with an exciting reformatted local competition, as, with the current blockade, we are unable to play in the West Asia Premiership, so the Gulf Conference – the second-tier league which we are currently top of – is now our only chance to play against regional teams. This new-look QRF XV’s competition will not only give us six to eight more games this season, but will also boost the standard of rugby across the country, which, in-turn, will help win over new fans and grow interest amongst the clubs and at grassroots level.”
Alex added, “We are now approaching our 12th week of training. What is especially promising for me is to see so many of the second team players putting their hand up this season to be part of first team squad. It demonstrates that the men really want to improve, and be the best they can be. So, here’s to a new start and the next step of rugby development in the country – good luck to all teams.”
This year, the QRF National Club Rugby Championship will feature six teams: The Qatar Camels, Al Khor, Blue Phoenix, Doha Maroon, Doha Gold, and Doha Vets. The matches will be played in three different venues across the country, including Al Khor, Doha Rugby Football Centre (DRFC) – home of the Doha RFC teams – and Aspire Zone’s Warm-Up Track.
Today’s matches:
7pm: Qatar Camels vs. Doha Gold Aspire Zone’s Warm-Up Track, Doha
7pm: Doha Vets vs. Al Khor DRFC, Doha
Tomorrow’s matches:
5pm: Doha Maroon vs. Blue Phoenix DRFC
Action from one of Qatar’s matches with Bahrain last season.
