Part 2 highlights education, coaching, and player voices building Sarawak women’s rugby future.
NOT long ago, the sight of Sarawakian women locking into a rugby scrum was almost unthinkable.
Today, they are pushing for national recognition, proving that the game belongs to women just as much as men.
The first part of this series explored the global rise of women’s rugby, Sarawak’s debut in the 15-a-side competition, and the milestones achieved.
This second part goes deeper—into the players who have fallen in love with the game and the efforts of the Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) to ensure their journey extends beyond the pitch.
It is about more than competition. Education, sustainability and continuity now drive the movement—building an ecosystem where players can one day become coaches, referees or mentors.
Each generation inspires the next, making sure women’s rugby in Sarawak is not a passing trend but a lasting force.
At its heart, this story is about uplifting women from rural communities, maximising their potential, and opening doors to new opportunities—on the field, in classrooms, and in life.
Building an Ecosystem
For SRU, rugby is not only about winning matches but shaping character and resilience.
To sustain the momentum, SRU is aligning sporting progress with education.
By merging athletic development with learning, it hopes to secure long-term opportunities for women in rugby while fostering personal growth.
SRU honorary secretary Rashid Salleh told the Sarawak Tribune that rugby, when paired with education, equips individuals to better handle life’s challenges.
“Women in rugby, especially those in tertiary education, develop a higher threshold for pain and stress.
“In rugby, when you are taken down, the only way forward is to get up again. That requires discipline and teamwork,” he said.
He explained that SRU is eager to see more women take up the game not only for the joy of playing but also for the pathways and opportunities it creates.
Already, the state has proven it has players capable of competing at the national level, and the union believes more can follow if support is sustained.
This vision includes setting up structured programmes across schools and districts.
By collaborating with the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS), Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and local educators, SRU has helped establish development centres to bring rugby closer to rural and semi-urban communities.
In doing so, it ensures that talent is not limited to major towns but discovered in longhouses, villages and schools tucked away in the interior.
The approach is not just about creating players but nurturing a rugby culture.
Young athletes are encouraged to think of the game as part of their personal development, one that builds confidence, resilience and leadership — qualities that carry them well beyond the try line.
Coaches Driving Change
Behind every player’s success is a coach who invests time and belief. In Sarawak, few embody this more than Sylvia Alexander Lian, a driving force in women’s rugby.
For more than a decade, Sylvia has guided a small group known as the Miri Letto Rhinos, steadily growing interest through clinics and outreach in schools.
“It’s just consistency and a lot of rugby clinics. Players themselves helped promote the game, especially when some were selected for the national squad,” she said.
What began as a handful of girls learning the basics has blossomed into a recognised feeder system for Sarawak rugby.
Sylvia has worked tirelessly to get more schools involved, often organising clinics in rural areas with limited resources. She believes visibility is key — when young girls see their peers excelling on the pitch, they begin to imagine themselves in the same role.
Proud of her players’ skills and passion, Sylvia now aims to develop more women coaches and referees.
Recently appointed assistant coach of the national U18 women’s sevens squad for the Asia Rugby Emirates U18 in China this September, she also hopes to bring more women teachers into the fold.
“We welcome teachers interested in rugby to join us so more schools can be involved,” said the Kenyah-Kelabit coach from Long Jeeh, Ulu Baram, and Batu Patung, Bario.
Sylvia believes that sustainability depends on more than players—it requires women who can lead from the sidelines as coaches, officiate matches with authority, and spread the game in classrooms and communities.
Her efforts represent the quiet but critical work that ensures rugby in Sarawak does not fade after one successful generation.
Players Speak Out
The players themselves are the strongest advocates of how rugby transforms lives. Many are students excelling in faculties ranging from Civil Engineering to Business and Economics while making their mark on the pitch.
Their stories show that the sport complements, rather than hinders, their academic ambitions.
For Josie Mavcellina Gone, 22, a full-time athlete under the Sarawak State Sports Council, rugby is a family, a battlefield and a classroom.
“Rugby teaches me courage, teamwork and resilience. Every bruise tells a story, and every game leaves memories I’ll carry forever,” said Josie, who now trains with the SEA Games long-list camp and previously captained the squad at the 2024 SUKMA edition.
Her versatility as a scrumhalf, standoff and centre has made her one of Sarawak’s most reliable players.
She looks up to Australian women’s sevens captain Charlotte Caslick for inspiration, but she also hopes to be a role model for Sarawakian girls who want to take up rugby.
Sharon Sim Lili, 24, has been in rugby for nearly a decade. A certified referee and coach, she captained Sarawak at 2022 SUKMA and represented the state at the 2025 National 7s.
“Rugby feels like home. It gave me a second family in my teammates and coaches who stood by me through every high and low,” Sharon said.
Her involvement beyond playing—earning certifications in coaching and officiating—shows how rugby builds multiple pathways for women.
Sharon hopes to see more Sarawakian girls not only play but also take up leadership roles in the sport.
Christalynna Henry, 18, from Samarahan, captains the 2026 SUKMA long-list squad. For her, rugby is unique because it challenges her physically and mentally.
“My coach always believed I could play for Sarawak—and it happened,” she said.
Meanwhile, Gillian Muna Kunting, 18, a full-time athlete from Miri, is emerging as a versatile talent, playing both winger and scrumhalf.
“I love rugby because it taught me discipline, teamwork and trust. Even under pressure, I always give my best,” she said.
For these players, rugby is not just a sport but a platform for growth. It shapes their studies, their friendships and their aspirations.
Each of them carries the hope that Sarawak can one day become a recognised force in Malaysian women’s rugby, with more athletes breaking into national squads.
More Than a Game
Rugby has become a transformative force for Sarawak’s women—producing not just athletes but resilient, educated and empowered individuals.
From grassroots coaches to state-level players, the programme nurtures talent, opens doors, and ensures women’s rugby thrives well into the future.
Sarawak’s journey in women’s rugby reflects the state’s broader sporting ambition: to challenge stereotypes, prove that rural communities can produce elite athletes, and show that women deserve equal footing in all arenas of competition.
For Sarawak, every try scored is more than a point on the board. It is a statement of courage, progress and the unshakable belief that women belong in every scrum.
The echoes of their tackles and cheers are more than sounds of a game—they are the rhythms of change, resilience and pride in the Land of the Hornbills.
