Azreen Nor Rahman
KUCHING: The Kuching Rugby Football Club (KRFC) believes it has lined up exciting and challenging tournaments this year.
Its president Azreen Nor Rahman said since March, KRFC had organised the Don Drury Memorial Trophy, KRFC League and the most recent inaugural 1Malaysia Cobra KRFC 10s (U19) at Song Kheng Hai rugby ground.
“Our next events will be the Bandaraya Cup for Schools U16 category on August 22, KRFC School 7s Open for the U15 and U18 categories on September 12-13, and our most anticipated KRFC Club’s 7s Invitationals for clubs on October 17-18,” he shared yesterday.
“We will be organising smaller tournaments such as touch rugby for women and maybe a school rugby league that will be played over three weekends in October,” he added.
“We invite all teams to participate in these exciting events and make our local rugby scene one of the country’s most happenings.”
Apart from that, Azreen said KRFC is also planning to send players to compete in the Sibu 10s expected from Aug 1-2 and the Labuan 10s from October 3-4.
“We are also eyeing another tournament either in Johor, Kuala Lumpur or Pulau Pinang.”
Azreen, who took over as KRFC head in March, said he has been working hard to build closer ties with other clubs in the state and country. By doing so, he hoped KRFC would improve the creditability of Sarawak rugby.
There are also plans to get new sponsors to strengthen the club’s finances so that it can carry out more activities.
“We are also looking to revive the President’s Cup which will serve as a base for selection of the state’s team.”
“With assistance from the Cobra Rugby Club, we will be developing rugby at school level and development level so that we can have teams to represent the state in the U19, U18, U16 and U15 categories,” said Azreen.
KRFC will also try to set up a base for match officials and secure recognition for them by Malaysian Rugby Union (MRU) by getting them to officiate at national tournaments.
“We (KRFC) have five referees at the moment and Sabah referees are more recognised than Sarawak referees,” he said.
Azreen added that KRFC is now able to reach out to more members to inform them of club activities on their Facebook page.
Other office-bearers for the new term are vice president Nick Dexter, treasurer Mohammad Iskandar and committee members Julian Melan, Ahmad Zakiruddin, Mohammad Hazrul, Mohammad Ismail and a Fijian, Koroi Anise.
Enquiries on KRFC tournaments can be made to Azreen at 018-3811105 or secretary Wan Ahmad Ramzy at 011-25085332.