KUCHING: UiTM Samarahan’s clean sweep at SUKIPT 2025 helped Sarawak coach, Stephen Patrick, to identify young talents for next year’s women’s rugby team.
The Sarawak Higher Education Institutions Sports Championship (SUKIPT) provided a valuable platform for scouting emerging players, with UiTM Samarahan dominating the women’s rugby competition under Stephen’s guidance.
The team recorded convincing victories in all four matches – 32-0 against UPM Bintulu, 28-0 versus Politeknik Kuching, 42-0 over UNIMAS, and 20-0 against Politeknik Mukah.
“This project started with just two weeks of training. There were challenges because the players also had classes to attend.
“This tournament not only tested our players but also allowed me to see who can step up to the senior team next year,” Stephen told Sarawak Tribune today.
Stephen, who was part of the Sarawak women’s side that achieved a historic third-place finish in the inaugural Women’s 15-a-side KRS-MSNS League earlier this year, expressed gratitude to UiTM Samarahan for trusting him to lead their team.
“If the Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) continues to send a team to the KRS League like this year, it will further strengthen the pathway from university rugby to the senior squad,” he added.
He noted that UiTM Samarahan captain, Dayang Tsaniya Hudiya, who also featured in the KRS League in June, has shown steady progress.
“As captain, her leadership skills have grown significantly. Her experience in the KRS League has sharpened her gameplay and her role as a leader within the team,” he said.
Stephen’s SUKIPT squad comprises players aged between 18 and 22 – a sign of a healthy and growing women’s rugby ecosystem in Sarawak.
