Johor will host the seven-nation Asia Rugby Under-18 tournament at the EduCity Stadium, EduCity Sports Complex in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru, from Dec 8-9.
Defending champions Hong Kong will be up against hosts Malaysia, Laos, Qatar, China, South Korea, and Uzbekistan. Asia Rugby, organize the tournament together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Johor Sports Council.
Johor Rugby Union (JRU) president Mohd Noorazam Dato’ Osman the tournament will be played on a round robin format with the top two teams playing in the final for the title.
The third and fourth placed teams after the completion of the round robin matches will in the Plate final while the fifth and sixth-placed teams will vie for the Bowl final.
The Johor 7’S (formerly known as Iskandar Puteri 7S) will also be held during the same time. Open to clubs the tournament has attracted 12 teams for the Johor 7’s Cup.
The teams are Iskandar Raiders, Wildcats Rugby Club, Blue Tiger Rugby Club, Ex EC (English College), Tanjung Rhino Rugby Club (all from Johor), X MORUC Rugby Club (Melaka), Terengganu Juniors (Terengganu), KL Saracens (KL), Royal Selangor Club (Selangor), UPM Angels (Selangor), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (Perak) and The Blues (Police).
Another highlight of the two-day Rugby Carnival the eight-team Women’s Open Club Championship, including a team from Singapore known as Black RFC.
The other seven teams vying for the Iskandar Investment Berhad Cup are Cobra Ladies (Selangor), Johor Ladies and Johor Ladies Development (both Johor), Sabah Warriors (Sabah), UTP Drillers Ladies, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Navy ORCA (all Perak).
Noorazam, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned company of the Johor State Government, said:
“The three tournaments will see the future stars of rugby competing. You can expect intense rivalry among the teams. Rugby is one of the core sports in Johor and the game has taken new heights.’
