TIGERS UNITED

The Philippines cemented their status as Southeast Asia 's rugby powerhouse after successfully defending the Union Cup with a commanding 39-18 victory over Malaysia in a thrilling final at Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand. The triumph secured the Volcanoes ' second consecutive Union Cup title and extended their dominance in the region's premier 15s competition. However, the final was anything but straightforward. Malaysia , fielding a youthful squad packed with new faces, stunned the defending champions with an inspired first-half display. Playing with speed, determination and fearless ambition, the Bunga Raya matched the experienced Filipinos blow for blow as the teams headed into halftime locked at 15-15. The turning point came during the break. The Philippines team management made crucial tactical adjustments, while the players' experience began to shine. The defending champions returned with greater composure, dominated possession and territory, and took co...

The fourth edition of the National Touch Championship (NTC) and the inaugural Junior National Touch Championship (JNTC) concluded in spectacular fashion at UKM Bangi, marking another historic chapter for Malaysian Touch. Organised by the Malaysia Touch Association , the combined championship brought together the nation's finest senior and junior athletes in the biggest Touch event ever staged in Malaysia. A total of 54 teams representing nine states. Selangor , Kuala Lumpur , Putrajaya , Pahang , Perak , Negeri Sembilan , Melaka , Penang , and Johor competed in an action-packed weekend filled with breathtaking speed, remarkable skill, tactical brilliance, and outstanding sportsmanship. Selangor once again proved their dominance by successfully defending the overall National Touch Championship title for the third time, collecting three gold and three silver medals. Kuala Lumpur finished as overall runners-up with an impressive haul of three gold, two silver, and one bronze med...

South Africa successfully defended their World Rugby Junior Championship title after overcoming France 16-5 in a fiercely contested final at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Saturday. The victory saw the Junior Springboks become only the fourth nation to win back-to-back Junior World Championship titles, joining New Zealand , England and France in the prestigious list. It was a triumph built on resilience and physical dominance as South Africa extended their winning streak in the competition to 11 matches. Despite having three tries ruled out, the defending champions never lost their composure. Fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed proved the difference with an outstanding kicking display, contributing 11 crucial points, while Markus Muller crossed for South Africa's only try. France's lone try came through flanker Raphael Audebert early in the second half, but it was not enough to deny the determined Springboks. Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele , a member of last year...

PHOTO: TOUCH ASSOCIATION SELANGOR Malaysia 's finest Touch players are set to converge at UKM Bangi on 18 and 19 July 2026 as the Malaysia Touch Association hosts the fourth edition of the National Touch Championship (NTC) alongside the inaugural Junior National Touch Championship (JNTC). A total of 54 teams from nine states, Selangor , Kuala Lumpur , Putrajaya , Pahang , Perak , Negeri Sembilan , Melaka , Penang , and Johor will battle across 108 thrilling matches over two action-packed days in what promises to be the country's biggest Touch event yet. Touch is one of the world's fastest-growing non-contact sports, combining the excitement of rugby with lightning speed, agility, precision passing, and exceptional teamwork without the heavy tackles. Every match delivers relentless end-to-end action, tactical brilliance, and split-second decision-making, creating an entertaining spectacle for players and spectators alike. PHOTO:  TOUCH ASSOCIATION SELANGOR Putrajaya e...

Malaysia Rugby has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening player welfare and safety following the recent tragic deaths of four individuals associated with the sport. In a media statement, the governing body expressed its deepest condolences to the families, friends, teammates, schools, clubs, and the wider rugby community affected by the losses, describing the incidents as a heartbreaking moment for Malaysian rugby. Following a preliminary review, Malaysia Rugby said the four incidents appear to be independent of one another, with no evidence suggesting a single common cause. Nevertheless, every case will undergo a comprehensive review to identify opportunities to further improve player welfare and safety across all levels of the game. The union emphasised that all Malaysia Rugby-sanctioned competitions already comply with strict medical standards. These include mandatory medical personnel, emergency action plans, hydration and heat mitigation measures, as well as concussion recog...

The wait is finally over. After years of heartbreak, Johor are champions once again. The Southern Tigers produced an unforgettable fightback to defeat Terengganu 34-26 and capture the 2026 Piala Agong title before about 4,500 passionate rugby fans at Stadium UiTM, Shah Alam. The thrilling showdown was a fitting finale to the 42nd edition of Malaysia 's most prestigious rugby championship. Everything seemed to belong to Terengganu in the opening minutes. The unbeaten side stormed into a stunning 19-0 lead, leaving Johor facing their biggest challenge of the season. But champions are defined by character, not circumstances. Johor refused to surrender. Driven by belief and determination, they clawed their way back with three unanswered tries to trail just 19-17 at halftime. The momentum had shifted, and so had the destiny of the match. After the break, Johor completed one of the greatest comebacks in Piala Agong history, sealing a remarkable 34-26 victory to claim their third ...