KUCHING: Sarawak’s U21 men’s rugby squad will head into the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026 as underdogs, determined to improve on their second-from-bottom finish in the previous edition.
Team manager, Shahradhi Libiki, said the recent WORC 10s triumph has provided a timely boost, though expectations remain grounded ahead of the Games in Selangor.
“Our realistic target for this year’s SUKMA is to improve on our previous performance, where we finished second from bottom.
“We may be viewed as the underdog team this year, but that only adds to our motivation”, he told Sarawak Tribune when contacted.
He acknowledged that reaching the podium will be a difficult task given the level of competition, but said the team is prepared to embrace the challenge.
“We understand that reaching the podium will not be easy, but if we manage to do so, it would be a significant bonus for the team”, he added.
Shahradhi said the squad’s preparations will continue through a series of tournaments and friendly matches in the coming months.
“The team will gain further exposure through upcoming tournaments including SKH 7s, Rainforest 7s and Johor 7s.
“We are also looking to arrange friendly matches against some of the top clubs in Sarawak to further test and develop the squad”, he said.
He noted that assembling the full squad consistently remains a challenge as most players are university students.
However, he said players continue to be monitored through training reports and individual programmes while also maintaining match fitness through university-level competitions.
“Closer to tournaments, the squad will undergo a one-week centralised training camp to ensure proper preparation and cohesion”, he added.
Meanwhile, head coach, Er Embran L Mohammad Ali, said the team’s recent success at the WORC 10s tournament should serve as motivation rather than complacency.
“The WORC result has raised expectations, but we remain realistic in our approach because SUKMA is a very different level of competition”, he told Sarawak Tribune.
He added that the coaching staff remains focused on long-term development and continuous improvement ahead of the Games.
