Song (second left) presents the challenge trophy for the La Salle Brothers Memorial Cup 7s to Yusop while SRU secretary Abdul Ghafar Arshad (left) and Dick look on.
KUCHING: Eight teams will participate in the inaugural La Salle Brothers Memorial Cup 7s U16 rugby tournament at Song Kheng Hai Rugby Field tomorrow.
They are Sakura, Kolej Abdillah, Kolej Abdillah U16, SHOAW, SHOAW U16, MRSM A, MRSM B and MRSM U16.
“This is an initiative by Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) to organise this tournament in collaboration with Kuching Rugby Football Club (KRFC) to remember and recognise the contribution by the La Salle brothers in rugby.
“It is also part of our long-term development plan to return Sarawak Rugby to its glory days,” said SRU president Richard Song Swee Jin after receiving a courtesy call from KRFC president Yusop Shah Mokhsen and treasurer Dick Bentham at his office in Pending yesterday.
Song said the La Salle Brothers Memorial 7s was to replace the Bro Columba Memorial Cup 7s in remembrance of the late Brothers Charles, Hilary, Hyacinth, Mark, John, Adrian, Columba and the most outstanding of them all, Albinus.
“Sibu Rugby Union has organised the Bro Albinus Cup while Kuching organised the Bro Columba Cup,” he said.
Song was happy with the committed and well organised leadership in KRFC, saying that the club was the best of the rugby clubs in the state.
“SRU recognises the contribution of KRFC. They are always ever ready to assist schools and other educational institutions as well as clubs with technical support in tournaments and clinics.
“In Kuching, we have committed teachers like Zulkaranainhisham, Wan Ahmad Ramzy, Zamzy Abdul Rahman
who have contributed tremendously in school rugby development and not forgetting veterans like Wan Idrus, Titus Chuo, Thomas Jacques, Ritchie brothers John and James, Philip Aso, Jackson Lim, Lawrence Lee, Azlan Borhan and Ehsan Berman.
“We also have passionate people in Sibu like the Ting brothers, Ambrose Chung and Dato Sri Batholomew Wong while Miri has done a lot for women’s rugby with help from Landale Cranfield and Sylvia Alexander Lian and we also have Bunyamin Matnor for men,” rugby,” added Song.