TIGERS UNITED

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...

South Africa and New Zealand produced a spectacular finish to the HSBC SVNS Series in New York, sealing both tournament glory and overall season honours in dramatic fashion. New Zealand’s Black Ferns Sevens once again showcased their champion quality, edging fierce rivals Australia 22–21 in a thrilling final. Despite already securing the overall series title, New Zealand showed no signs of slowing down, with Kelsey Teneti scoring twice alongside tries from Alena Saili and Katelyn Vahaakolo . Australia pushed them to the limit, but the Black Ferns held firm to claim their fifth tournament win of the season. The Blitzboks held their nerve to edge Fiji 10–7 in a tense men’s final, clinching the gold medal and the overall series title. With both prizes at stake, South Africa struck early as captain Impi Visser , playing his 50th tournament, created space for Gino Cupido to score the opening try. Tristan Leyds extended the lead before Fiji fought back through Terio Veilawa , s...