Frankie Migi (R) of the Miri Rhinos in action during an earlier match against UBD Sharks. All of the BRFU Premiership's matches will be held in Brunei this year. BT file
This year's edition of the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Premiership will see all of its matches held in Brunei.
Last year's competition saw Bruneian teams struggle to make it for their matches against the Miri Rhinos at the Curtin University field in Miri.
Only two of the four Bruneian teams - Knights Rugby Football Club and Bandar Blacks - made the drive down to the neighbouring Malaysian town for their matches.
The Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Sharks were unable to make the journey, forfeiting their match and giving away three free points.
The Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PDB) were more fortunate, with the Rhinos doing the travelling to the Panaga Club in Seria for their match.
The Rhinos went on to lift the Dr Hj Kamaruddin Cup in April after leading the BRFU league table with 26 points, ahead of the UBD Sharks who sat on 22 points and the Knights on 21 points.
Tournament director Kim Geddes told The Brunei Times that the idea for the teams to travel to Miri for their matches was not successful.
He explained that the teams that did cross the borders weren't in full form and they usually took with them a skeleton team.
"That to me was not successful, if you have all these teams and the majority can't travel to all these games, we've failed," said Geddes.
"We will still invite Miri and it will be nice if they take part.
"Hopefully we will be able to have some of the games in Kuala Belait as a compromise," he added.
Miri Rhinos manager Sylvia Lian said that her team will still be making their journeys across the border to defend their BRFU league title.
"The Rhinos have been training continuously every week since the beginning of the year and have also had a few games," said Lian in a phone interview with The Brunei Times.
"If the games are all to be held in Brunei this year, we hope that the organisers can consider making our home games somewhere nearby like Kuala Belait.
"It's going to be a tough season for us if all the games are in Bandar because logistically it is too far to travel every week.
"Hopefully the players will perform a lot better this year as we are using this league as preparation for Sarawak's Presidents Cup that will be starting in either May or June," added the Malaysian.
Unfortunately for the Rhinos, they lost their chance at taking home the Darussalam Cup after MS PDB edged them 15-12 in the semi-finals.
The UBD Sharks went on to win their first major piece of silverware after securing a 23-5 win over MS PDB in the final.
The BRFU premiership - set to start either late February or early March - will see the addition of two teams this year.
Three-time league winners and four time Darussalam Cup champions Belait Pythons and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council will be making their return to the competition.
