COBRA'S RIO - A RIPPLE OF A POSSIBLE RUGBY TSUNAMI

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This is not the first time any rugby club imported a professional player. In fact, the influx of Fijian in Malaysian rugby pitches are already a norm. They raised the game in one way or another. But Ryoma Kudo is a different breed of rugby import. "Rio" as he is fondly known is somebody that came from a more developed and established rugby nation, Japan. He is here to develop the rugby as an industry.

He is just a 28 year old lad not even a superstar in Japanese own standard and people might say what can he do to Cobra let alone to Malaysian Rugby as a whole?

Rugby Ambassador

Well first and foremost, he will be the ambassador for Rugby Japan in Malaysia. He could be the gateway towards many more Japanese born players plying their trade right here in Malaysia. Club standard need to be raised to be able to attract these players. I would say it is rather timely or rather coincidental since MRU just planned to go Professional in 2018. Clubs like COBRA, RSC and NS Wanderers might be pro ready, what about the rest?

Having more Japanese players down here would also attract Japanese sponsorship Mullah. Japanese huge Kieretsu (Conglomerates) coming in Malaysia Rugby in full force would have positive impact in the development of the sport right here in Malaysia. The likes of Toshibas and Toyotas on Keris Conlays and Mersing Eagles jerseys will surely look better to the team development, youth development, infrastructure development and many more in the long run

The feeder league to the Nippon

Malaysia could even be the feeder league to JRFU, developing rugby talents to be playing in the land of the rising sun. More and more players like Duke Krishnan, will be unearthed and discovered to be playing at Japanese leagues and vice versa. Teams such as Kobe Steel Steelers and Panasonic Wild Knights could also strike partnership deals with local clubs. Sharing talents, tactics, experience and definitely our local clubs will be the main beneficiaries. No doubt about it.

Malaysian plausible Rugby Renaissance

MRU as a whole would also benefit from this. Imagine the quantum leap of an epic proportion we could have ignite here. For the record Japan is the leading Asian rugby country, and the focal point of rugby in the region and has participated in the last five Rugby World Cups. Japan has the 4th largest number of registered rugby union players in the world (125,508) compared to MRU (41,050), behind only England, South Africa and France. Japan offers significant commercial opportunities through established relationships with major corporations based in Japan, including those involved in Top League.

So to say Rio is just another rugby import could be a major understatement. To not benefit and profit from this development would be a total waste of opportunity. Kudos to COBRA to land this wonderful talent to Malaysia. All been said and done, all of these wouldnt have happen over night. It takes great efforts from multi faceted point of Malaysian rugby stakeholders. Perhaps COBRA 50th anniversary will mark the next best 50 years of Malaysian Rugby. Truly a Rugby renaissance so to speak. We can now see the making of rugby a truly global sport. It would increase competition and serve to narrow the existing divide between the Top Tier Nations and the Second Tier Nations for the good of the game in the long run. 

By Faiz Hakim of Tigers Super Sports

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