singapore u-20s rugby

The Singapore U-20 national squad. (Photo courtesy of Jonathan Leow)

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Saturday, September 10, 2011 — The Singapore Under-20 national rugby team beat Kazakhstan U-20s 17-10 in the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Division 3 final. The win gains Singapore promotion to Division 2 for 2012. Singapore had earlier beaten Uzbekistan U-20s 75-5 to make the final.

Against Kazakhstan in the final, Mark Cheong and Saiful scored one try each and both were converted by Constantin Denis. Constantin also added a penalty.

Pakistan was the other nation in the four-team division and this is the first year that there is a three-tier system at the Under-20 level for the Asian Rugby Championships.

There was confidence before the tournament that Singapore would do well.

Said Low Teo Ping, president of the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU), before the tournament: “We are very proud of these young men who have worked hard to gain selection, and they are the future of Singapore Rugby. We have a strong management and coaching team heading the squad and I am very confident that they can achieve the goal of promotion.”

The squad of 24 have been in training for close to three months and were led by Mohammad Saifuldun from Republic Polytechnic and the Wanderers Football Club. Mark Cheong, a recent graduate of United World College and the Singapore Cricket Club Rugby Section, led the forwards.

The final squad was picked from an initial pool of 40 invited players, and contains seasoned youth internationals, some promising youngsters who have trained with the senior men’s team and some who played for Singapore for the first time.

The squad is coached by former Singapore International Marcus Yeo and former youth International Jonathan Leow who sees the unique blend of players as key for success.

“The best available players have been selected, and despite their varied backgrounds have moulded very well,” said head coach Jonathan Leow before they departed.

Singapore U-20 Squad
Mohammad Saifuludin (RP, Capt), Mark Cheong (SCC, Vice-Capt), Muhammad Hanafy Bin Ghazali (Singapore Poly), Muhammad Afeeq (Republic Poly), Malek Faizal (RP), Daniel Tan (SP), Benedict Foo (Temasek Poly), Ahmad Ibrahim (Nanyang Poly), Brij Mohan Singh (SP), Kenneth Ang (ISS International), Ramavendan s/o Viarakanu (RP), Vighnesh Krishnan (TP), Declan Martens (Singapore Cricket Club), Diego Garcia Luna (SCC) , Tang Hon En (ITE), Muhd Iqbal (RP), Muhammad Taufiq (SP), Teng Chong Yao (Saints RFC), Muhammad Khairuddin (RP), Irfan Fadhli (RP), Sean Hamilton Fox (SCC), Ross Emmett Morris (SCC), Constantin Denis (Overseas Family School), Muhammad Danial (Jurong Junior College)