Sarawak gets ‘bye’ to last eight of Agong’s Cup rugby

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champions Perak are among the 11 teams vying to be national rugby champions at the 2017 Agong’s Cup which raises its curtain this Saturday.

According to Malaysia Rugby Union, the organisers of the 35th edition of the tournament, nine of the 11 teams will be divided into three groups.

As defending champions, Perak were placed in Group A together with the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and Kedah, while Johor, Kelantan and Perlis were drawn in Group B.

Group C will see Terengganu take on the Royal Malaysian Police ( PDRM) and Negeri Sembilan.

Meanwhile, two other teams - Sabah and Sarawak - received a bye and they automatically qualify for the quarter-finals.

“This is the annual nationallevel championship for the 15-aside category, and it will be coorganised with the Terengganu State Rugby Association as hosts for the semi- finals and final in this edition,” said the statement.

The quarter-finals will be held at the Petaling Jaya City Council Stadium ( MBPJ) and Universiti Putra Malaysia ( UPM) on Aug 21, while the semi- finals and final will take place at the Gong Badak Sports Complex in Kuala Terengganu on Aug 24 and 26.

The champions will bring home a cash prize of RM15,000, followed by RM10,000 for the runners- up, while the third and fourth placed teams will get RM7,000 and RM5,000 respectively. — Bernama