KUCHING: After years of quiet rebuilding, Sarawak’s women’s rugby team has reached the semi-finals of the 2025 MSNS-KRS League, marking a major step in the revival of the sport.
Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) honorary secretary Rashid Salleh said the team’s progress reflects a deliberate effort to expand beyond the 7s and 10s formats.
“We’ve had quite a number of talented female players since around 2015. From 2017 to 2019, two Sarawakians won double bronze medals at the SEA Games with the national 7s team.
“Since then, we’ve consistently had Sarawak players in the national setup,” he said in a Selangor Rugby Union video.
With a new committee in place since late last year, SRU has shifted focus to long-term development.
“In the last six months, we’ve made a conscious effort to develop women’s rugby. Although our talent pool may not be as large as in Peninsular Malaysia, the potential is there,” Rashid said.
The introduction of the 15s league by Selangor Rugby Union gave Sarawak the opportunity to test its depth — and the team responded with grit.
“The biggest challenge has been funding. We’re grateful to key supporters, especially SRU president Zainal Abidin Abdullah, who has been instrumental in pushing us.”
He also thanked the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, and SRU patrons Richard Song and Tan Sri Morshidi Ghani.
“These ladies don’t get paid, none of us do. It’s all voluntary. We fly in weekly — something usually done only by pro football teams,” he added.
The programme has seen returning players and new media interest.
“With two wins and two losses, we’ve made the semi-finals in our very first 15s season,” Rashid said.
Sarawak will face ATM in the MSNS-KRS League semi-finals on June 14 at Padang Astaka.
