KUCHING: Sarawak’s U18 rugby team is “ready to play” as they kick off their MSSM Rugby Championship 2026 campaign, with coach Mohammad Nafri Abdul Rahman expressing confidence in his youthful squad ahead of their opening fixture.
The Sarawak side, which departed this morning (June 6) for the national school championship, will begin their Group stage campaign against Perak tomorrow (Sunday, June 7) at 3:00 pm.
They will then face Melaka on Monday (June 8) at 4:30 pm, before concluding their group matches against Pulau Pinang on Tuesday (June 9) at 3:00pm.
Coach Nafri said the squad is made up predominantly of Form 4 and Form 5 students, with six players aged 18, forming a balanced mix of developing talent and slightly more experienced players.
“Mostly the players are Form Four and Form Five students, and we also have six 18-year-old players,
“All of them are good and ready to play against Perak,”he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
Despite their relatively young composition, Nafri remained upbeat about his team’s readiness as they prepare to face a demanding schedule in the national competition.
The squad will be looking to make a strong start against Perak before taking on back-to-back challenges in the following days.
Sarawak’s participation in the MSSM Championship held in Ipoh, Perak, continues to serve as an important platform for developing school-level rugby talent and exposing young athletes to competitive national-level action.
With preparations completed and spirits high, the team now shifts its focus to delivering strong performances on the field.
