The 2026 calendar year has begun with clarity for some and uncertainty for others in the West Asia Premiership. While a handful of sides have laid down firm markers, others have been left staring at uncomfortable questions as the second half of the season starts to take shape.
Doha RFC should have been watching closely during their bye week. With an extra weekend to observe rather than compete, this was an opportunity to see the true standard required in the second half of the season. The message from the league was clear: physicality, discipline, and accuracy are non-negotiable. Doha will need to arrive next week ready to meet that level, because anything less will be punished.
Bahrain set the standard
There was no ambiguity in Bahrain RFC’s message. A brutal 60–14 victory over the Dubai Sharks extended their unbeaten run and reinforced just how difficult it is to leave Bahrain with points. They dominated up front, earned the right to play wide, and punished any sign of weakness. It was a performance that underlined a simple truth: travelling to Bahrain and expecting a result remains close to impossible.
Sharks searching for answers
For the Sharks, the fallout is significant. That defeat has pushed them out of the top four, and the nature of the loss raises serious questions about their resolve. Other sides competing at the top end are not being dismantled in this fashion, so why are the Sharks? Is it purely a personnel issue, or is there something deeper at play? A moment of honest reflection, perhaps even a full player lock-in, may be required if they want to halt the slide and reassert themselves.
Harlequins caught between flashes and failures
The Abu Dhabi Harlequins once again left the field with more questions than answers after their clash with the Dubai Hurricanes. Their set piece struggled badly, both at scrum and line-out time, making it difficult to build any sustained pressure. While the counterattack showed promise, the reliance on individual brilliance remains a concern. Is this a systems issue, or are players failing to execute within it? Until that balance is found, progress will be limited. The task does not get any easier either, with the Abu Dhabi Harlequins now facing Bahrain RFC this week — a challenge that will demand a dramatic lift in set piece accuracy and collective discipline.
Hurricanes winning without clicking
The Hurricanes will be satisfied with the outcome, if not the performance. A depleted backline and a catalogue of skill errors did little to stop them securing a bonus-point win and holding onto third place. Beating the Harlequins twice this season will provide a significant psychological edge, but there is work to be done. Decision-making and in-game choices must sharpen if they are serious about going back-to-back this year.
Dragons inconsistent despite results
The Dubai Dragons got the result they wanted, yet still walked away with concerns. At their best, they were skilful, composed, and dangerous, scoring three well-constructed tries. At their worst, they appeared disinterested and sloppy. Discipline remains a major issue, and the gap between their highest level and their lowest is currently far too wide to ignore.
Exiles showing signs of life
There were encouraging signs from the Dubai Exiles, who looked far more competitive than earlier in the season. The return of experience has brought composure and belief, and they created more than one genuine opportunity to win. However, too many unforced skill errors persist. At this level, those mistakes are costly, and eliminating them is essential if the Exiles want to return to being a side others fear.
Discipline becoming a defining issue
Across the competition, discipline is threatening to undermine progress. Too often teams are gifting territory through avoidable penalties, effectively being piggy-backed up the field without opposition effort. Seven yellow cards across three matches is not a statistic any league should accept lightly. Pressure created by ill-discipline is self-inflicted, and it will only lead to further problems.
If teams want to compete in the West Asia Premiership, the message is clear: work harder, be smarter, and earn every inch. The second half of the season has begun, and there is nowhere left to hide.
