FOUR men's netball teams from Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi will compete against each other for the first time at the 23-year-old Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Netball Championships which will be held at the Bahrain Rugby Club in Saar on March 13 and 14.

Hosts Bahrain will look forward to defending the title which they won last year against previous winners Dubai and newcomers Kuwait and Abu Dhabi.

Men's netball has grown in the Gulf since the introduction of the Men's Championship at the Inter-Gulf tournament in Al Ain in 2004.

"Smaller Gulf regions such as Kuwait, Al Ain and Doha depend on male players to keep their leagues going and it was a priority for us as organisers to recognise their contribution and give them a platform for their own competition," said event manager Michaela Milne.

"The men's matches always attract a huge crowd and we look forward to the competition this year," she said.

In addition to playing against their Gulf counterparts, the men's teams will also have to face the formidable Hucclecote Ladies Invitational team from England which features some of the best young netball players in England.

"It's a huge pleasure for us to travel to Bahrain to play the best teams in the Gulf," said Hucclecote team manager Barbara Warburton. "We see playing against the men as a huge challenge and we look forward to meeting them on the courts in March."

The championships will take place at the Bahrain Rugby Club. For more information, contact Michaela Milne on 36600308 or check the website www.intergulfnetball.com.