A file photo of the Belait Pythons celebrating after winning the 2011 Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) League title. The Pythons are currently training for two tournaments in September. BT file
The Belait Pythons are not wasting any time and have kept up their training despite the end of the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) Premiership season.
Pythons head coach John Beart has been going full speed ahead with training as they are preparing for the Sept 21-22 Labuan 10s and the Sept 27-28 Baram Trophy in Miri. Other tournaments that they will be looking forward to - though they have yet to be confirmed - are the Flying Kukris 10s and the Brunei 7s series.
Beart, who has had the Pythons under his wings for less than a year after taking over in September, admitted that he's not fixated on topping competitions for the upcoming events. "I'm not focused on winning so much. With the young squad I have, it's more about getting them to realise their potential," Beart told The Brunei Times.
"This requires some motivation from myself and the players. "We've been stripping everything back to basics and working on a game plan and training to that," said Beart.
They have decided to march on through with training during Ramadhan by having evening sessions under floodlights. "This will ensure we don't lose momentum as we prepare," noted Beart.
The Pythons have also benefited with extra numbers during their sessions as they have close ties with the British Garrisons Flying Kukris. "We have been training with the Kukris as a mutual benefit to all," said Beart.
"It boosts numbers in training and the sharing of knowledge and experience is invaluable," added Beart. The Pythons had an unlucky season during the BRFU Premiership league as they were unable to seal four wins to take home the Dr Hj Kamaruddin Cup.
After a year out in 2013, they came back with a bang this year by taking out last year's champions Miri Rhinos 26-5 before outplaying the previous Darussalam Cup title holders Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Sharks 25-5.
The Knights Rugby Football Club then stepped in to sit the Pythons back down by securing a 35-12 win. Their last league match saw them seal a 24-12 win over the Bandar Blacks.
Landing in second position on the table meant they would face the UBD Sharks once again for a spot in the final of the Darussalam Cup, though unfortunately that was their last game as they were knocked out 14-7.
Pythons' Muhammad Ziyad Hj Ramlee and younger brother Muhammad Zuhdi Khairi represented the squad as national team players during the June 17-21 Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Asian 5 Nations that was held in Brunei.
