KUCHING: The rapid rise of rugby in Sarawak is a positive sign for the sport’s overall progress in Malaysia, says Malaysia Rugby Training and Education Coordinator and World Rugby Educator, Mohd Irwan Abdol.
He said that as Sarawak continues to develop its coaching and player base, it contributes directly to raising the national standard of rugby.
“When a state like Sarawak sees rugby booming and the standard of play improving, it brings a positive impact to Malaysian rugby as a whole.
“We will have more quality players, and everything else will follow,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview held on Friday.
Irwan, who has been involved in rugby for more than two-thirds of his life, noted that player welfare and structured education have improved significantly in recent years, reflecting Malaysia’s commitment to aligning with World Rugby standards.
“Since the time I played up until now, one of the most significant improvements has been in player welfare.
“In fact, this initiative started from World Rugby, through Asia Rugby, and down to Malaysian Rugby as well,” he said.
He added that player welfare has remained a key priority for the sport over the past several years.
