Rugby team off to Guam for ARFU tourney

NATIONAL rugby coach Zakaria Hj Hamzah is confident that his players are not just ready to compete in the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Asia Pacific Regional Tournament in Hagtna, Guam, but will be able to put up a strong fight in the three-team competition.

Departing to Manila enroute to Guam yesterday, the squad made up of 23 players and four officials is headed by Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU) President Dr Hj Kamaruddin Dato' Seri Paduka Hj Talib.

The team face the Philippines on June 29, and hosts Guam on July 2.

"I think they have had enough training, and their fitness level up to par which was my biggest concern," said Zakaria at the Brunei International Airport yesterday.

"The players have all recovered from injuries they picked up during training, so right now it comes down to the players' mindset and whether they are ready or not.

"I would not say we are confident of winning the tournament, but after watching the players during the last day of training, I can say they are really ready for this and are anxious to get started and I am sure they will provide a tough challenge to our opponents."

Training together since May 21 and undergoing centralised training since June 16, Zakaria hopes that his brand of "total rugby" will be the key in unlocking their opponents' defence.

Stating that the squad's forwards are their biggest assets and that their gameplan will rely heavily on the team's overall speed and ball handling, Zakaria also said that the forwards are able to run as fast as the full-backs and that the aim is for them to link up during attacks.

The Belait Pythons are the best represented rugby club in the squad with 11 of their players in the team, with six other players from the Bandar Blacks, three from the Royal Brunei Yacht Club (Yachties), two from the Royal Brunei Police Force and a single representative from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (ABDB).

The Brunei Times