(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Qatar Rugby 7s League got off to an explosive start as the Camels 1 picked up a massive 50-0 victory over DRFC Hurricanes in the opening game at Aspire Park last evening.
Camels 1, who represent Qatar, continued their winning momentum, after having won the Qatar National Day Rugby Sevens in December and reaching the quarterfinals of the Dubai Sevens tournament.
With the likes of Aaron McLelland and Greg Evans, who are regulars in the Doha RFC 1st XV team playing at the West Asia level, Camels 1 were too strong for the Hurricanes, who have many up and coming players from their Colts team besides a few experienced hands from the 15s.
Camels, being coached by Fijian Usaia Bimaiwai, went into the break at 24-0 before continuing with their scoring spree in the second half.
"Yeah it does feel a little weird to play against the boys I play almost every week with. But Greg and I were committed to the Camels team because initially DRFC wasn't going to get involved," McLelland told Gulf Times after the team's opening win.
"I think we have developed a lot in the last couple of months and I can see great potential, which is why I want to be involved with the team. I mean I hope their ambitions are as big as I think they should be."
The league, according to McLelland, known for his explosive pace in the Gulf rugby circles playing as full-back for Doha RFC, can only "get better from here".
In the other games on the day, Camels 2 also won against College of North Atlantic-Qatar beating the latter 22-12, while Lions RFC blanked Blue Falcons 20-0.
Qatar Rugby Federation president Yousef al-Kuwari was visibly pleased with the proceedings of the opening day of the competition. "This is of course only the start of the league and it will only get better. So far thanks to God, it is how we expected. I am very happy to see level of the games," he said.
Earlier, Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada opened the inaugural sevens tournament by throwing the ball towards a Camels 1 player, who then passed it onto the other players from the two teams that played the opening game.
The second game on the day was a juniors game between Dukhan School and Blue Falcons of the Lycee Bonaparte School in Doha, which the latter won 15-12.
"The kids played with a lot of heart and it was great to see that. That is what the focus should be on-having more kids playing the game. We do have enough teams to have a kids' competition and soon we will be looking at that too. This is good," al-Kuwari said.
Talking about the focus of the Camels teams and the future, he said, "We use the Camels 1 as the national team. They meet the requirements to play as our national team. But having more teams is also very good for us. It helps to have the numbers when there are injuries to the players. Meanwhile, having two teams, developing these players also gives us a chance to play the 15s game here."
With Rugby Sevens finding a place in the Olympics Rio 2016 onward, "Olympics is definitely on our mind," al-Kuwari said.
"This is the purpose behind trying to develop this strong team. Hopefully they will take us to the Olympics in the near future. It is a long-term plan-2020 and 2024 are realistic targets but we are also looking at other competitions where Qatar can be represented," he added.
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