Coach wants more schools to take up rugby
KUCHING: Rugby coach Landale Cranfield has a mission in Miri. The former Sarawak Shell Bhd senior well manager and current senior staf f trainer wants to introduce rugby to as many schools as possible in the division.
“There are 36 schools in Miri and we have only eight of them
There are 36 schools in Miri and we have only eight of them playing rugby. Our objective is to get more of the primary and secondary schools to play rugby. Landale Cranfield, Rugby coach
playing rugby. Our objective is to get more of the primary and secondary schools to play rugby,” he declared.
The schools are SMK Dato Permaisuri, SMK Merbau, SMK Lutong, SMK Pujut, SMK Sains Miri, Kolej Vokasional Miri, SMK Riam Miri and SMK Luar Bandar Miri.
“This is where the Miri Division Rugby Association ( MDRA) and the Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) can come in to support our efforts with the introduction to the education authorities,” he told The Borneo Post.
Towards the aim, Cranfield, who was posted to Shell Miri in 1990, had been coaching rugby ever since and is working very closely with MDRA development officer Sylvia Alexander Lian to develop the game.
He can take pride in the fact that three players from Miri Stancy Ling Engan, a Kenyah, Cindy John Pasan, a Kelabit, and Fidelia Limang Telajan, an Iban, are in the national team for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur this August.
Cranfield said the sport as a whole grew in Miri and there was a schools tournament where over 400 children with over 100 girls playing including the PBC Mini and Youth players showing what they could do in an exhibition game.
In September and October, about 220 pupils attended a “Get Into Rugby” session both at Tenby International School and the MMC Padang.
Miri junior rugby continued to grow and gain momentum especially with the taggers with new players becoming involved as well as recruitment of new coaches.
Over the last year, Piasau Mini and Youth Rugby continued to grow and gain momentum in Miri with new players becoming involved, as well as recruiting new coaches and referees.
SRU’s support for the “train the trainer” sessions to certify as many of its coaches and senior players to be able to give “Get into Rugby” sessions within the schools was also sought.
Cranf ield said onc e the youngsters are aware of rugby as a sport for all ages and genders and it is shown to the teachers, parents and pupils that it is fun and run in a safe manner and this will create a “pull” from the school pupils.
“What we have found is that those who play rugby develop physically better motor skills, team working, have a respect for discipline and do better at their studies.”
He said currently there are three distinct groups namely Tag Rugby, Early Tacklers and Full Contact training each week.
“Tag rugby is for the younger children aged seven and below and they have been keeping the coaches busy as there has been as many as 20 plus children and the training focuses on hi- energy fun, ball skills and elementary rules,” said Cranfield.
“Tag sessions are for both girls and boys and is growing rapidly in popularity. “The Early Tacklers group is a transition group from Tag rugby to Full Contact and keen 8-10 years old boys and girls are introduced to the rudiments of the contact game and we have been surprised at how well the girls have taken to the tackle game.”
He added that there had been an upsurge of local players from the Miri area and he is looking forward to many games in the future.
According to Cranfield, the kids have learnt how to fall and execute a tackle with correct body position and are now playing seven to 10a- side amongst themselves each week.
They are always looking forward to playing games against other sides which is rather limited at the moment.
“Full Contact Rugby is for those aged 11 to 14 and above. We have a core of eight to 15 players in conjunction with Tenby International school who have started Rugby CCA on Monday afternoons.
“The training sessions focus on key skills of passing, tackling, contesting for the ball in open play, scrums, lineouts and general positional play, as well as general fitness work,” he said.
In addition, teamwork, discipline and sportsmanship are important features being introduced at this level and some of the older players have been involved in the adult rugby training held in Miri.
“It is very important to get the kids started early in rugby and it will be too late to get it done in the secondary school because by the time they would have developed ‘bad habits’.”
The coaching is free and open to all children in the Miri area to encourage the growth of rugby in Miri.
The training is held at the Piasau Camp, House 100 pitch and starts at 9am on Saturday. For more information, cal l Cranfield at 0109839882 or visit Piasau Mini and Youth Rugby on Facebook.