Malaysia rugby to organise state-level tournaments to unearth new talent

IPOH - Malaysia Rugby (MR) will be organising state-level tournaments to unearth new talents for the national squad and boost rugby activities in the country.

Its president Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said the tournaments would start on June 4 until the end of this year, involving under-17 and under-19 players both for the male and female categories.

"It involves 7-a-side tournaments because they are easy to implement while the 15-a-side type, which is the basic category in this sport, is not organised much and should be increased," he said.

He told this to reporters after the conclusion of a three-day MRM management council seminar here last night which was also attended by his deputy Amir Amri Mohamad and vice -president Mohamad Fahmy Abd Jalil.

According to him, MR was very satisfied that it has been given permission to resume state rugby leagues in Selangor, Penang, Melaka and Putrajaya, which also includes the involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) teams.

"The four states have been given permission by the National Security Council (MKN). When it (Covid-19 pandemic) enters the endemic phase, surely more states will resume their respective leagues,” he said.

Shahrul Zaman, who is also Perak Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman, also informed that the Perak Rugby Union had elected a young leader from the Kuala Kangsar Malay College (MCKK), Syed Saifullah Alsagoff, as their new president in elections held yesterday. - BERNAMA