MIRI: The Sarawak rugby community has paid tribute to veteran coach and mentor Landale Cranfield @ Anuar Abdullah, remembering him as the driving force behind the growth of rugby in Miri and a passionate advocate for developing young talent and women’s rugby.
Cranfield, 74, passed away on July 21 and was laid to rest today at the Sungai Beluboh Muslim Cemetery in Bakam, Miri. He is survived by his wife, Srimurniyati, and daughters, Emily and Sri Mumtaz.
For more than three decades, the adviser to the Miri Division Rugby Association (MDRA) dedicated his life to building the sport from the grassroots, inspiring generations of players while helping establish stronger pathways for women and youth rugby in Sarawak.
Sarawak women’s rugby coach Sylvia Alexander Lian described Cranfield as a father figure whose influence extended far beyond the rugby field.
“Coach Landale was like a father to all of us. He always challenged us to give our best, believed in our potential and constantly reminded us that discipline and teamwork were just as important as talent,” she said after paying her final respects.
She said his passing was a tremendous loss, not only to Miri but to the entire Sarawak rugby fraternity.
According to Sylvia, Cranfield was instrumental in identifying promising players and ensuring they were given opportunities to progress through the ranks.
His commitment extended beyond coaching sessions. He actively supported local tournaments, encouraged rugby programmes in schools and worked closely with officials to strengthen the sport’s development structure.
Among the competitions closest to his heart was the Hornbill Sevens, which he viewed as an important platform for nurturing emerging talent, particularly in the women’s game.
“His contribution was never confined to one team or one tournament. He always looked at the bigger picture, preparing young players to represent Miri, Sarawak and eventually Malaysia,” she said.
His influence continues to be reflected in the success of the Sarawak women’s team, which claimed the silver medal at the 2024 Malaysia Games.
The squad is now preparing for the upcoming SUKMA in Selangor, where it hopes to improve on that achievement by winning gold.
Sylvia said the players would honour Cranfield’s memory by carrying forward the discipline, resilience and sporting values he instilled in them.
His youngest daughter, Emily Cranfield, has continued her father’s legacy by forging a successful coaching career of her own.
Introduced to rugby by her father at the age of four, Emily recently guided the Malaysian women’s national 15-a-side team, the Bunga Raya squad, to victory at the inaugural Southeast Asia Women’s XV Championship in February 2026, securing a historic first regional title for Malaysia.
“My father was much more than a rugby coach. He was my mentor, my inspiration and the person who taught me that rugby is about discipline, courage, teamwork and believing in people,” she said.
“His legacy lives on not only through the teams he helped build, but through the confidence, character and passion for rugby that he inspired in countless players, including me.”
Emily said her long-term ambition is to establish a sustainable pathway for Malaysian women’s rugby, beginning at grassroots level and ultimately producing players capable of competing on the world stage.
“My dream is to see Malaysia qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup and, one day, challenge for the world title. That journey starts by developing young players properly and giving them meaningful opportunities to grow,” she said.
She is expected to take up a coaching appointment in Western Australia, where she hopes to further enhance her coaching experience and expertise.
Born in the United Kingdom, Cranfield also enjoyed a distinguished 37-year career with Shell in the oil and gas industry, specialising in well engineering, operations, training and competency development before retiring in 2015.
Despite the demands of his professional career, he remained unwavering in his commitment to rugby, dedicating countless hours to mentoring players, developing coaches and expanding opportunities for the sport across Sarawak.
While his passing leaves a significant void, the countless lives he touched and the generations of players he helped shape ensure that Landale Cranfield’s legacy will continue to inspire Sarawak rugby for years to come.
