KUCHING: Two Sarawak women’s rugby teams gained valuable experience at the UMS 10s 2025 tournament in Sabah, using the event to test tactics, build confidence, and evaluate future SUKMA prospects.
The Sarawak Hornbill and Sarawak Development teams competed in the Women’s Open category against more experienced senior sides, including national-level players.
Although they did not advance past the quarterfinals, the tournament offered important lessons for the young players.
Coach Sylvia Alexander Lian said the main goals were to gain match exposure, analyse tactics, and assess each player’s role on the field.
“This tournament gave our players the chance to face stronger, older opponents – a rare and valuable opportunity for growth,” she told Sarawak Tribune when contacted recently.
The Sarawak Hornbill team included five SUKMA 2024 players and others from the long list, giving coaches a chance to try different positions and combinations.
The Sarawak Development team, meanwhile, focused on grooming younger talents for future SUKMA participation.
Coach Sylvia said the younger players showed good speed and agility, especially in the backs, but the difference in physical strength and game experience compared to older opponents was clear.
“In contact areas like tackling and rucking, the younger players were often outmatched.
“This highlights the need to strengthen our conditioning and physical development programmes moving forward,” she said.
The team also worked on decision-making under pressure, an area where structured play was visible but still needs refinement.
“Execution in the red zone and defensive realignment after line breaks were inconsistent, so we’ve got clear markers for improvement.
“The experience also provided valuable mental toughness training, a key trait for future elite performance.
“Players handled setbacks well, which is promising for long-term development,” she said.
Despite these challenges, the coach was encouraged by the players’ psychological resilience.
“Hopefully this development programme will bring more success to rugby in Sarawak,” she added.
The Sarawak team consisted of 24 players from schools and institutions across the state, including secondary schools in Miri, Bintulu, Kapit, Bau, Kuching and Tebedu, as well as UiTM Kuching, Polytechnic Kuching, and the University of Technology Sibu.
“We are satisfied with the players’ commitment and eagerness to play against senior teams.
“They were brave in facing and tackling players who are not only older and more experienced but also include national-level athletes with a clear physical advantage.
“We are proud of these schoolgirls and hope they continue to love the game and stay passionate about rugby,” she said.
Coach Sylvia also thanked the parents, teachers and coaches for their support, along with MSN, SSC and the Sarawak Rugby Union for making the trip possible.
The team will now take a short break for the Gawai festival, with a reminder to stay fit and ready for future training.
