TIGERS UNITED

VIOBA BLUES Vioba Blues etched their name deeper into Kuala Lumpur rugby folklore by clinching a third consecutive KLR League title, completing another dominant and unbeaten campaign in the KLR League 2025, the annual rugby championship organised by the Kuala Lumpur Rugby Union . The champions sealed the title with a commanding victory over a resilient SJAA Eagles side in the final match of the season. Vioba struck first in the opening half when Naufal Qayyim crossed for a crucial try, with Jauhar Rosazha adding the conversion. SJAA showed admirable fight and ambition, but missed two key penalties that proved costly, allowing Vioba to head into halftime with a 7–0 advantage. MOBSTER RC After the break, Vioba Blues grew in confidence and control. Their structure tightened, the tempo increased, and SJAA struggled to contain the champions’ momentum. Muhammad Haikal powered over for Vioba’s second try, converted by Khainor Arif , before Naufal struck again to complete the scoring in...

From the quiet hills of Castelnau-Magnoac to the thunderous stadiums of world rugby, Antoine Dupont’s journey is the kind of story sport rarely produces. Raised in a rural village in southwest France, he grew up surrounded by farms, animals, and hard work, a lifestyle that shaped his strength, discipline, and unbreakable character. Long before he became a global superstar, Dupont was just a young boy racing across fields, helping his family, and discovering rugby at the age of four with his local club, Magnoac FC . His rise through the rugby ranks was meteoric. After shining at Auch and making his professional debut with Castres , Dupont’s career truly ignited when he joined Toulouse , France’s most powerful rugby institution. There, he transformed from a talented youngster into a generational force. With Toulouse, he captured multiple Top 14 titles, the prestigious European Champions Cup , and delivered countless match-winning performances that left fans in awe. His explosive runnin...

The Kuala Lumpur Rugby League 2025 has reached Week 3, and the excitement is growing louder every Saturday at RRI Hevea Arena . Rugby fans from across the Klang Valley continue to pack the venue, eager to witness the clash of five top city teams battling for this season’s crown. Defending champions Vioba Blues have returned in style. After resting in Week 1, they stormed back with two convincing victories. With star players Acun , Pekka , and Luq strengthening the lineup, the Blues are eyeing a historic three-in-a-row championship. Last year’s runners-up, Mobster Rugby Club , are also on fire. Winning both their opening matches, they look dangerous with key players Ucop , Marcus , Black and Cenaz leading their charge. Meanwhile, Kusess Barbarians are still searching for their first points after three unlucky outings. Despite the results, their spirit remains unbroken. Guided by seasoned players Diego and Shahrin , the Barbarians are showing clear improvement from last season. SJ...

World Rugby has announced major progress on preparations for the new World Rugby Nations Cup , which will kick off in 2026. All 12 participating teams have now been confirmed, setting the stage for a groundbreaking competition that will help nations prepare for the expanded Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. The Nations Cup promises an unprecedented level of competitive international rugby for emerging and rising teams. With a strong focus on performance growth, financial development, and meaningful global competition, the tournament will give these nations regular, high-quality Test matches during the July and November windows. All 12 teams, Canada , Chile , Georgia , Hong Kong , Portugal , Romania , Spain , Tonga , Uruguay, USA , Zimbabwe , and Samoa qualified automatically by earning their place at Rugby World Cup 2027. This makes the Nations Cup a true platform for World Cup-bound teams to sharpen their skills. The tournament is closely linked to the new top-tier Nations ...

Polis DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) once again proved their dominance as a rugby powerhouse after clinching the 2025 Piala Agong title, defeating Johor 18-17 in a thrilling final at UM Arena earlier this evening. Even sweeter, the victory marked a historic hat-trick of championships for PDRM in Malaysia’s most prestigious rugby tournament. The triumph was nothing short of dramatic. Under head coach Dinesvaran Krishnan , Sang Saka Biru fought until the final moments of the match to break Johor’s hearts. The highly anticipated clash between the two best teams in the country began with both sides missing early penalty chances through Aqasha Daniel Irwan (Johor) and Muhamad Amirul Aqil Kamsol (PDRM). Amirul Aqil later redeemed himself by slotting in a penalty to give PDRM the lead in the 27th minute. Johor, however, responded swiftly two minutes later with a quick-penalty try from naturalised player Sae Faalupega , converted by Aqasha Daniel. Just before halftime, Owen Niue capitalised on...

After five weeks of pulsating action, the Agong Cup group stage has concluded, with all ten teams battling hard for glory in Malaysia ’s most prestigious rugby competition. Defending champions PDRM lived up to their billing, topping Group A with a flawless record of four wins from four matches. Under the guidance of former national stars Dineswaran Krishnan and Yusli Ramli , the Police Team have now set their sights on a historic fifth title, having lifted the Agong Cup four times since 1983. Group B belonged to Johor , who collected maximum points under the leadership of head coach Rodney So’oialo . Last year’s finalists are chasing their third Agong Cup crown, with their most recent triumph dating back to 2017. Meanwhile, Pahang and Kedah ’s campaigns came to a bitter end after finishing bottom of their respective groups, leaving the big guns and dark horses to charge into the quarterfinals. The Piala Agong , first contested in 1983, is Malaysia’s biggest and longest-running rugb...

The inaugural RW Selayang 10s Rugby Championship ended in spectacular fashion as Supark Grizzly stormed to victory, defeating Semashur Zealord 21-0 in a rain-soaked Cup Final at the IIUM Gombak Rugby Field. Despite the heavy downpour, the crowd of about 1,000 fans remained firmly in their places, cheering every tackle, run, and try. Supark Grizzly showcased clinical finishing and rock-solid defense, taking a commanding 14-0 halftime lead before sealing the Cup with an outstanding second-half performance. Tries from Muhammad Haziq Hasrol , Muhammad Zamir Irfan , and Farhad Mohd Fairos , alongside flawless conversions from Aiman Nazmi Awaludin , secured Grizzly’s perfect 100% record throughout the tournament. Star player Muhammad Zamir was deservedly named Best Player of the Cup Final for his dominant display. The host team, Rhinoz Warriors , gave their supporters plenty to celebrate by clinching the Plate Final with a commanding 24-0 win over Impact Oldboys . Muhammad Irsyad Syafi w...

A new chapter of Selayang rugby is about to be written. The Rhinoz Warriors Rugby Club, fresh from their triumph as Selangor Division Two Champions, will host their first-ever tournament, the Selayang 10s on 27 September 2025 at the IIUM Pride Park. The stage is set for eight renowned teams. Rhinoz Warriors , Supark Grizzly , Semashur , Impact Oldboys , OPA Scorpions , Kobau RC , Shah Alam Rovers , and Home of Warriors are set to collide in 24 explosive matches, featuring more than 120 outstanding players. Fans can expect a festival of rugby packed with drama, intensity, and unforgettable action. But this milestone was not easily achieved. Finding a field alone was a test of persistence, with months of searching around Selayang and Gombak before IIUM became the chosen battleground. Securing sponsors was another mountain to climb, yet the Warriors’ determination won crucial support from Majlis Perbandaran Selayang (MPS) through Ahmad Zahiri , as well as Laundry Bar, JKR, Rugger Distri...

Uruguay have once again carved their name into rugby’s grandest stage, sealing their place at the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 after a fierce Sudamericano battle with Chile. Over two legs of passion, sweat, and relentless struggle, Los Teros emerged triumphant, 46-35 on aggregate, to book their ticket to Australia. Carrying a 12-point advantage from their first-leg triumph in Santiago (28-16), Uruguay endured a scare in Montevideo, where Chile struck back with a narrow 21-18 win. Yet the aggregate stood firm, and with it came confirmation: Uruguay will march to their sixth Rugby World Cup, their flag once more flying proudly among rugby’s elite. This victory crowns them champions of South America and secures their role as the continent’s second representative, alongside Argentina, at the expanded 24-team tournament. Ranked 16th in the world, Uruguay now turn toward the December draw, hungry for new challenges and fresh history to be written. From their unforgettable upset over Fiji ...

The Chief Minister Cup 2025, organised by Melaka Rugby , turned Hang Tuah Stadium into a fortress of passion and pride over three unforgettable days. With 37 teams competing and an estimated 3,000 spectators attending the tournament during the event, the atmosphere was electric. In the Men’s Open, young guns SSTMI Tsunami stunned seasoned rivals, defeating Driller Oldboys 19–5 to lift the Cup. Guided by the calm coach Syed Syazril , their youthful energy was unstoppable, marking their second straight triumph at the venue after winning the 2024 Melaka International Rugby 10s. IIUM Mustangs claimed third place, beating Nosta RU 22–0. The Women’s Open saw Hanelang Ladies from Terengganu outclass the Melaka Vixens 17–7 in a thrilling final, while ATM Ladies powered past Daisies RC 24–5 for third. In the U20 showdown, SSMP Falcons edged KPMBP Ravens 5–0, while Melaka U20  secured third over  Oasis RC   via coin toss after a scoreless game. Veterans proved age is jus...

The historic city of Melaka is gearing up for a major sporting spectacle as the CM Cup Rugby Tournament 2025 takes place at the iconic Stadium Kubu ( Hang Tuah Stadium ) from 29–31 August. The tournament will feature five categories, with eight teams competing in each division and five teams in the Women’s category. In total, nearly 800 players, coaches, and officials are expected to gather, making this one of the biggest rugby events in Malaysia this year. The tournament is powered by the Melaka State Government as the main sponsor, with the support of MSN Melaka, MBMB, Tourism Melaka, and Perbadanan Ketua Menteri. Co-sponsors include Archway, Koridor Utiliti Melaka, CMI Infra, Meditech Alliance, Jurukur Saharuddin El Asas, SAMB, Putra Hospital, Melaka Bekal Sdn Bhd, and Precise Subsurface. Melaka will be proudly represented across all categories, including Kolej Yayasan Saad , SMK Telok Mas , Melaka High School , Nosta , Ex-Hornet , X-Moruc , Polis Melaka , Melaka Team ...

For many years, Malaysia has welcomed foreign players into its domestic rugby scene, hoping they would raise the standard of local competitions. But despite their presence, our international performance has remained inconsistent. The national team once soared, winning Asia Division 2 and Division 1, and even reaching the Asia Top Division. Players like Duke Krishnan , Marc Le , Shahir Ashraf Rosli , Amin Jamaluddin , and a few outstanding Fijians made a real difference. But once they retired, and we relied mostly on local-based players, the Bunga Raya team struggled to maintain that level. What made Duke and Marc different? They played abroad. Duke featured in Japan’s Top League and Major League Rugby in the USA. Marc played in New Zealand and later Japan. Their growth overseas in structured systems, higher-paced competitions, and professional setups, turned them into game-changers for Malaysia. Playing abroad transforms players. They face new challenges, adapt to unfam...

The Malaysia Rugby National Sevens Championship 2025 wrapped up in spectacular fashion at Stadium Tengku Muhammad Ismail, Terengganu, with Kelantan and Johor stealing the spotlight in the Men’s Open and Men’s U21 categories. In the Men’s Open, Kelantan reclaimed their crown, edging past a determined Johor side 17-12 in a nail-biting final. Powered by national stars Azwan Zuwairi , Hafiezie Sudin , Khairul Abdillah , and Wan Azli , Kelantan proved unstoppable. Selangor crushed Terengganu 34-0 to clinch third. Zulhisham Rasli was named Best Player, standing out with electrifying play. Meanwhile, in the Men’s U21, Johor extended their dominance, winning the title for the fourth consecutive time. They narrowly defeated Selangor 15-10 in a tense final. Kelantan beat Kedah 29-7 to secure third place. Luqman Nul Hakim of Johor was recognized as the Best Player for his outstanding contribution. It was a weekend of high drama, fierce rivalries, and top-tier sevens action. TIGERS SUPE...

Selangor delivered a stunning performance at the Malaysia Rugby National Sevens Championship 2025, dominating both the Women’s Open and Women’s U21 categories in a thrilling three-day tournament at Stadium Tengku Muhammad Ismail, Terengganu. In the Women’s Open, Selangor stormed to their third consecutive title, shutting out hosts Terengganu 29-0 in the final. Perlis claimed third place after a hard-fought 12-5 win over Johor . Dinah Syafiqah was named Best Player for her commanding presence throughout the campaign. The victory parade continued in the Women’s U21 category, where Selangor finally ended their heartbreak after finishing runners-up four times since 2018. They again overpowered Terengganu 29-0 in a repeat of the senior final. Johor beat Perak 19-7 to take third place. Rising talent Noor Azzuwa was deservedly crowned Best Player. Credit goes to Head Coach Mohamad Faiz , who masterfully led both teams to glory, cementing Selangor’s legacy in women’s rugby. THE MATCH

The Malaysia National Sevens Rugby Championship 2025 promises fierce competition, and Melaka is ready to rise. With 91 players from seven teams in the Women’s Open and 130 players from ten teams in the Women’s U21, the Terengganu showdown from 25–27 July will showcase the best of Malaysian women’s rugby. Melaka proudly sends two squads this year. Their Women’s Open team returns for a third time, while their U21 team makes its debut. Leading the charge are key players Maslieya Nur Athirah Masdi , Nur Batrisyia Nadrah Aziz , and Iman Aisyah Ishak in the senior squad, while the U21 team features rising stars Nurul Syafiqah , Nurul Syazliana , and Noor Yusra Thaqifa . Backed by the tireless efforts of Melaka Rugby Union President Hameed Basheer , Vice President Abdul Halem Berahim , dedicated coach Hainur Shalehin , and team manager Nur Ain Natrah , Melaka has fought hard to assemble two competitive teams from a limited pool of players. They trained hard every we...

Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) is heading to the Malaysia National Sevens Rugby Championship 2025 with a clear goal: to surpass their best performances yet. Thanks to strong support from the Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak  and Sarawak Sports Corporation , the SRU is sending its largest-ever contingent. 52 players and 12 officers, with 95% proudly Sarawakian and all of Borneo origin. The contingent will be led by SRU Deputy President, Yusop Shah Mohksen , who also serves as Head Coach of the Men’s Open team. His leadership has been instrumental in preparing the squads, and this year, SRU has also included two medical officers and four physios to ensure full player support. Last year, the Men’s Open squad broke into the Cup Quarterfinals, finishing in the Top 8, a target they aim to meet or exceed this time. The Women’s Open team, 4th in 2023, return to gain more exposure and experience for their youthful squad. The Men’s U21 team, previously 14th, aim to push furthe...

Asia Rugby has unveiled its most ambitious Emirates Sevens calendar yet, promising an explosive season of speed, skill, and continental pride. In 2025, the top 12 men’s and women’s teams will battle it out across two major legs, with a golden ticket to the HSBC SVNS Division 3 on the line,  World Rugby ’s rebranded global sevens circuit. The action begins in Hangzhou, China on 20–21 September, then shifts to the rugby-mad streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka on 18–19 October. With more teams and higher stakes, this year’s series will be a true showcase of Asia’s growing sevens power. Beyond the elite level, the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy expands the reach of the game with thrilling new stops in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia and Muscat, Oman, marking historic milestones for both nations. Meanwhile, the next generation takes the spotlight with U20s in India (August) and U18s in China (September). Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai praised the calendar as a bold s...