Premier 7’s a platform to unearth talented young rugby players — MRU
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay College Rugby Premier Sevens 2017 to be held from Feb 24 to 26, will serve as a platform to unearth talented young rugby players to represent the country in the Under18 category.
Mal aysi an Rugby Union ( MRU) president Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said the Under-17 tournament to be played at the Kuala Kangsar Malay College ( MCKK), will feature the cream of the crop in the country.
“MRU feels teams representing the country must be developed from an early age. In Malaysia we set up rugby teams only at university level but in developed countries, teams start at the age of 12.
“For example, the Hong Kong team that won the Asia Under-19 Rugby Championship in November has been playing since the age of 12. Therefore, we too need to prepare teams at various age groups to match other countries,” he told reporters at the launch of the Malay College Rugby Premier Sevens 2017 at the MCOBA Building, here yesterday.
Shahrul said apart from the MCKK 7’s, the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) organised Rugby 10’s Under-15 championship is another avenue to identify talented rugby players.
Meanwhile, MCKK Premier 7’s tournament director Amrul Hazarin Hamidon said the maiden appearance of SMA Darunnajah from Indonesia and 2015 champion Hong Kong Sports School would provide the challenge for teams playing in the tournament, especially defending champion Sekolah Sukan Tunku Mahkota Ismail (SSTMI).
He said 20 local teams and four foreign teams had confirmed their participation for the championships.
Teams : MCKK, SMK Abi ( Perlis), SM Sains Pokok Sena ( Kedah), Sekolah Tunku Abdul Rahman, SMK King Edward VI I ( Perak), SM Sains Hulu Selangor, Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Int eg rasi G ombak ( Selangor), Victoria Institution, SM Sains Selangor ( Kuala Lumpur), Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah ( Putrajaya), Sekolah Dato’ Abdul Razak, SMK King George V ( Negeri Sembilan), SSTMI, SMK Seri Mersing, English College ( Johor), Sekolah Berasrama Penuh Integ rasi Kuantan ( Pahang) , SM Sains Sultan Mahmud ( Terengganu), SMK Sultan Yahya Petra 1 ( Kelantan), SMK Agama Sheikh Haji Othman Abdul Wahab ( Sarawak), Sabah College, Australian International School ( Singapore), Hong Kong Sports School, SMA Darunnajah ( Indonesia) and Vajiravudh College (Thailand). — Bernama