KUCHING: Sarawak Rugby Union’s women’s team is preparing for a tough test against Malaysian rugby powerhouse Cobra Venom, with head coach Stephen Patrick calling on his players to elevate their physical and mental readiness ahead of the May 10 encounter.
“This week, I’ve told the players to improve their stamina and fitness. The level of competition is rising each week, and we need to match that intensity,” said Stephen.
He said this in an interview with Sarawak Tribune today (May 6).
He also stressed the importance of discipline off the field, noting that health and recovery are equally vital.
“We constantly remind the players to take care of their health — proper nutrition, hydration, and mental rest are just as important as physical training,” he added.
Despite being seen as underdogs, Sarawak’s women’s team remains driven as they prepare for back-to-back fixtures against Cobra Venom this weekend and KL Tigers RFC on May 17 in the MSNS-KRS Women’s Rugby League.
Despite acknowledging their underdog status, Stephen remains optimistic about the team’s progress and fighting spirit.
“This week we’re up against Venom — one of the top teams in Malaysia. It’s definitely going to be an explosive match, even though we’re the underdogs,” he said.
He praised the team’s performance in their most recent outing, where Sarawak cruised to a convincing 35–5 victory over Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) at Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya last Saturday.
“Our team was about 80% solid last week, and the presence of senior players really helped elevate the overall performance,” he noted.
Stephen credited the team’s recent success to a simple but effective formula: sticking to the game plan, believing in themselves and one another, and capitalising on opportunities.
With a strong mix of experienced and new players, Stephen thanked Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) and Selangor Rugby Union (KRS) for their ongoing support in developing women’s rugby.
