File photo shows Sibu players (left) pushing to win the scrum en route to their narrow 16-13 win over KRFC to lift the 2014 Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) Cup in Sibu.
SIBU: Sibu Division Rugby Union (SDRU) hopes to round up the year with a ‘bang’ in the 29th biennial Miri Baram Rugby Cup, which starts at Miri Stadium today.
Coach Michael Ting said his lads were all pumped up for the tough road ahead.
“It’s not going to be easy as we will be up against some of the best teams from throughout the state. Our target is to reach the last four and anything beyond is an achievement,’ he said.
Nine teams are taking part in the tournament where Kuching is sending two teams, SHOAW Warriors and Kuching Rugby Football Club.
The others are SDRU, Mukah Swiflets, Bintulu Rugby Association, Miri Rhinos and two teams from Brunei – Kuala Belait Pythons and Flying Kukris.
Ting believed the claim for the title could be a tussle between defending champion Bintulu and Flying Kukris as the latter are full of expatriates.
“However, teams like SHOAW Warriors and Kuching Club should not be overlooked.”
Ting said Sibu star player Iowanne Sovatabua would not be taking part due to commitments.
“It’s unfortunate that the Fijian will not be in our team this time but I told my boys that there is still hope even without him.”
SDRU finished plate runners-up in the last meet. It has lifted the title a number of times in the 1990’s, in 2008 and 2010.
The Baram Trophy is steeped in history – it is likely the oldest rugby tournament organised in Borneo since 1978 during a peak time of oil and gas expatriates in Miri under Miri Rugby Football Club then.
The trophy was named after the Baram river in the fourth division where the Orang Ulu and the upper river people originated from.
Over the years, the championship attracted numerous teams from Singapore, Hong Kong, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.
The first Baram trophy was won by Panaga Crocs for three consecutive wins in the 1990’s.