MRU establishes HPU to bring more success to national team
SERDANG: The Malaysian Rugby Union ( MRU) has established a High Performance Unit ( HPU) in an effort to bring more success to the national rugby team.
Its president, Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya said the High Per formance Uni t wi l l be responsible for improving the national 15- a- side team, the 7- aside team and the women’s team.
“We have roped in the services of several technical advisers including former All Blacks ( New Zeland) player, Brad Mika for the 15- a- side team,” he told reporters after the final of the Under-19 Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Championship at Universiti Putra Malaysia ( UPM), here yesterday.
The Ministry of Education ( MOE) has agreed to make a success of the National Rugby Development Programme (NRDP) that will start from primary school level to university level.
Shahrul Zaman said NRDP, that will kick- off early next year, will involve at least five schools in each state, namely two primary schools, two secondary schools and a high performance school.
“The plan is to introduce rugby to children from as early as five years- old via a pre-school programme. I do not want them to stop playing rugby when in secondary school due to lack of facilities,” he added.
Malaysian rugby is at an all time high after the national team emerged as Division One champions of the Asian Rugby Championship (ARC) in May.
The national 7- a- side team emerged as the fifth best team in Asia. — Bernama