After creating a sensation by clinching silver and bronze medals at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak 2024), the Terengganu rugby squad has decided to kickstart their preparations early, with two years to go before SUKMA 2026 unfolds in Selangor. This timely move takes advantage of the state’s abundant young rugby talent, nurtured through local development programs starting from school age.
Not wanting to let this latent talent go to waste, the Terengganu Rugby Association (PRNT) alongside the Terengganu State Sports Council (MSNT) as the main stakeholders have successfully attracted 105 participants through four Talent Identification (TID) programs conducted across various districts in Terengganu.
This development indirectly sets a positive benchmark for the stakeholders of the rugby development program, particularly involving several schools in Terengganu that can produce new talents to be showcased at higher levels.
“Some of these participants are willing to travel long distances to join the rugby talent identification programs, and some even came back for subsequent selections after not being chosen in the earlier rounds. There are even participants from outside the state of Terengganu trying their luck.
“We are well aware and have also received early feedback from various parties, including the participants’ parents, to hold another series of selection programs since some prospects had to focus on the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) exams, which will conclude in February 2025,” said Muhammad Azmeen Mohd Yusoff, MSNT’s sports coordinator.
Meanwhile, team manager Enche Mohd Amirulmukminin Sulaiman expressed his gratitude to the rugby teams, especially former students who continuously support the rugby development programs in their respective areas and strive to position their trainees to represent Terengganu at the SUKMA 2026 in Selangor next year.
“Without the collaboration between the Terengganu State Sports Council through the Sports Technology Division (BTS MSNT) as the technical selection partner and the district-level rugby associations or the sports teachers in their respective schools, including Atadalta Consultancy as the program sponsor, we wouldn’t have been able to gather as many as 105 participants from across the state.
“I can say that this is the largest number of participants since I started managing this rugby squad in 2017,” said Enche Mohd Amirulmukminin Sulaiman, who made his first appearance as team manager at SUKMA Perak 2018.
Next, the rugby squad’s training program is scheduled to start in the first quarter of this year at the Tengku Muhammad Ismail Rugby Stadium, Terengganu Sports Complex in Kuala Nerus.
In addition to planning the rugby sports development and training program, MSNT and PRNT will also assist the rugby squad trainees with housing placements, schooling, and other welfare needs for these high-performance athletes.
