By Tony Munro, Date: 23/6/12

Duhaney Park Red Sharks club stalwart, Otis Brae, will perhaps have one of the most pressurised roles in Jamaican Rugby League when the 2012 season starts today (Saturday, June 23).

Brae takes over the coaching role of the JRL defending premiers from Jamaican league legend Romeo Monteith for their title defence which begins against GC Foster College.

The Red Sharks will still have Hurricanes skipper, Roy Calvert and Robert Rodney to head their campaign against a GC Foster College team which will undoubtedly look to fellow Hurricane, Ryan Grant, for inspiration.

Another team expected to figure prominently are 2011 minor premiers, Vauxhill Rugby, who also have their own Hurricanes such as Sandino Hastings, Omar Jones, Everton Richards and Tyronie Rowe to provide arguably the best depth in the competition. Their first match is against the competition’s newcomers, the St.Andrew Renegades.

Some familar names have combined to become a new entity as the Gregory Park Maroons and the Portmore Eliminators have metamorphasised into the Portmore Suns. Their first match is against JDF.

In the remaining game, Spanish Town encounter Renaldo Wade’s Maxfield Rookie Star Steppers.

Denham Town will not take part in the 2012 competition.

The first round draw

Wk 1 Sat. Jun 23 2:20 Duhaney Park v. GC Foster GC Foster Mahfood

Wk1 Sat. Jun 23 4:00 Portmore Suns v. JDF GC Foster Bramwell

Wk 1 Sat. Jun 23 2:20 Renegades v. Vauxhall Campion College Hall

Wk 1 Sat. Jun 23 4:00 Spanish Town v. Maxfield R.S. Steppers Campion College Robinson