KUCHING: With four World Rugby-accredited courses running concurrently this week, Sarawak is making significant strides in strengthening its coaching, officiating, and player welfare ecosystem.
Malaysia Rugby Training and Education Coordinator, Mohd Irwan Abdol, said the Malaysia Rugby Technical and Education Seminar features Level 1 courses in 15s and 7s coaching, match officiating, and First Aid in Rugby (FAIR).
“This week, we have about 10 Malaysian Rugby educators conducting the courses, with one World Rugby trainer joining us.
“By next week, Sarawak will have 40 new qualified coaches ready to spread the game further across the state,” he said.
Speaking to Sarawak Tribune on Friday, Irwan said Sarawak’s proactive approach reflects the growing passion for rugby at the grassroots level, supported by structured training and certification opportunities.
“One of the biggest challenges in rugby now is managing the increasing number of players and coaches.
“We need to ensure proper coordination, build a database, and bring everyone together. That’s the challenge we’re facing as the sport continues to grow,” he said.
Participation in the courses includes representatives from Bintulu, Miri, Sri Aman and UNIMAS, as well as coaches from schools and local rugby associations across Sarawak.
The event is held in conjunction with the Asia Rugby Annual General Meeting (AGM) and hosted in Sarawak for the first time.
The collaboration reflects a strong partnership between the Malaysia Rugby Union, Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU), and World Rugby, with the full support of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP), Business Events Sarawak, and the Sarawak Tourism Board under the Tribe Legacy Sarawak Campaign.
