RM100,000 for a title

A RM100,000 incentive awaits the national team if they successfully defend their title at the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) Division 1 on May 14-20 in Ipoh.

This was announced by Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) president Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Shahrul said: “This is the best way to show our commitment to bridging the gap as the popular sports would get higher incentives in comparison to something like rugby.”

The winners of this year’s ARC will be promoted to the Premier Division with a shot at qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

World Cup qualification is the reason why the men’s 15s team have been making extensive preparations since last month.

“The team just came back from Perth and we certainly hope that they will defend the championship when the tournament takes place.”

Coach Lee Nyuk Fah said his players are expected to be 100 per cent fit as they will be ready mentally and physically to face opponents from Sri Lanka, the Philippines and powerhouses United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Key player, Eto (Vaka Saukuru), is injured (ankle) but apart from that, the rest of the boys’ injuries are just muscles.”

Eto will be replaced by Mersing Eagles’ Vunimoku Timoci as the team face UAE in their opener on May 14 at Padang Ipoh before meeting the Philippines on May 17 and finishing off against Sri Lanka on May 20. Farah Azharie

This is the best way to show our commitment to bridging the gap as the popular sports would get higher incentives in comparison to something like rugby. DATUK SHAHRUL ZAMAN YAHYA

MRU president