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Aussie Rules in Brunei |
Australian rules football was first played in Brunei in 1998 when a social match was held between the new boys at JISand the resident Mongrels down on the bamboo goal posted and overgrown field in the tough shipping town of Muara, followed by a meeting to establish the Brunei Australian Rules Football League. Anthony Rodaughan was duly appointed the League's first president.
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The domestic competition soon commenced on the rock hard, but immaculate, Jerudong International School soccer field. The competition grew in popularity as first timers from England, Scotland, New Zealand, Canada and Brunei soon became regulars, albeit with continual shell grit knee and elbow scabs. Teams included the Glamour Mongrels, Barbarians and The Wild Things.
Player numbers were reduced in late 1998/99 as the country began ending numerous expat contracts, but the league took stock and continued to provide a regular competition for its members.
1999 brought the formation of the Brunei Sharks, a composite side representing the league, playing their first match against the Singapore Wombats. The Sharks wore the col.ours of Black, White & Yellow with Red trim.
In 2000 The Sharks made their first appearance at the Asian Australian Football Championships in Jakarta.
After a busy 2001 followed by a patchy 2002, 2003 has seen a new lease of life in the BARFL. President Horne and Treasurer Gerschwitz have reinvigorated the domestic competition and mandatory post match 'fellowship' . Rusty Frettingham purchased a couple of sets of the BARFL's most loved domestic guernseys from the questionable supplier in neighbouring Miri and the fortnightly competition began. A host of junior members added a little more pace around the goals, whilst a young set of British lads and lasses, gave some zip around the ground.
Above The Brunei Sharks and Malaysian Warriors (2003)
On the morning of the 15th of November 2003 a group of fearless Sharks chugged stealthfully across the calm waters of the Brunei Bay on the hunt for Malaysian Warriors. After a morning of preparations the sharks schooled at the Labuan padang and began their assault on the Warriors. The afternoon saw the BARFL rise as one to inflict a tremendous flogging of the brave and gravely undermanned warriors. Courageous Sharks switched allegiances and plugged gaps left in the Warriors side and gallantly tried to hold back their fellow Sharks, but to no avail. The Sharks went on to convincingly wallop the hard playing Warriors.
The last information about Aussie Rules in Brunei was the cancellation of the Sharks tour of Vietnam in 2007.
BARFL Theme Song All together now... We're a happy team in Brunei We're the mighty fighting Sharks We love our club and we PLAY TO WIN Riding the bumps with a grin (in Brunei) Come what may you'll find us striving Teamwork is the thing that counts All for one and one for all Is the way we play in Brunei We are the MIGHTY FIGHTING SHARKS!!
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Posted on Jan 01, 2011 06:44am by admin
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