JAPAN DO ASIA PROUD
Malaysia now want to emulate Brave Blossoms in producing quality players
ASIAN teams have always been regarded as the whipping boys in rugby. However, World No 7 Japan have made Asia proud with their impressive performance in the ongoing World Cup (15s).
They have achieved a breakthrough by becoming the first Asian team to reach the quarterfinals where they will take on former champions South Africa on Sunday.
Although half of their World Cup team comprise naturalised players, it is nevertheless a big achievement and now it offers hope to other Asian nations.
World No 24 Hong Kong and 31st-ranked South Korea are the second and third-ranked teams in Asia, followed by the Philippines (World No 42), Sri Lanka (No 47), Malaysia (No 49) and Singapore (No 55), but they are far behind the Brave Blossoms.
Malaysia now want to adopt Japan’s effective methods in producing quality players.
“Japan success did not come overnight. It all started 25 years ago when they took the initiative to develop quality players,” said Malaysia Rugby secretary Amrul Hazarin Hamidon yesterday.
“They meticulously planned their programmes to reach this level. Their naturalisation programme has also been effective.
“Half of their current squad members are naturalised players (16 out of 31). However, some have been in Japan for a long time, playing in their league and university tournaments.
“Their captain Michael Leitch had moved to Japan (from New Zealand) when he was about 15.
“Their professional league (Top League) attracts leading players and the fact that Japan have played in every World Cup since its inception in 1987 has also helped in their progress.
“Plans are also in the pipeline for Malaysia to emulate some of Japan’s effective methods and utilising naturalised players is one of our main focus.”
Currently, Malaysia have five naturalised players in Naivaluoni Raturibi, Serupepeli Naqasima, Sakiusa Terence Gavidi, Etonia Vaqa Saukuru and Timoci Vunimoko, who are from Fiji.
National captain K. Dinesvaran and Marc Le are plying their trade in Japan’s Top League with Yamaha Jubilo and Hino Red Dolphins respectively.
“We are probably 10 years behind Japan, but I believe the gap can be closed in two to three years,” Amrul said.
“The first step is to identify and nurture quality naturalised players. The best way is to get them young and attach them to our programmes.
“The next is to get them attached to professional teams overseas, not just in Japan, but leading nations like New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
“We have Dinesvaran and Marc plying their trade in Japan. Other national players should also step up and try to find teams overseas. Professionalism is the way forward. Not all of our national players are full-time and this scenario needs to change if we are to close the gap with Japan.”
For the record, Malaysia have never played Japan in the 15s.
On whether Asia should be given an additional World Cup slot, Amrul said other Asian countries need to catch up with Japan first.
“The fact that there is a huge gap between Japan and other Asian nations makes it difficult to push for a second World Cup slot,” he added.
World Rugby allocate eight spots to Europe, five to Oceania, three to the Americas, two to Africa and one to Asia with the final slot going to the team who win the intercontinental playoffs.