KAPIT: Some 202 students and 17 teachers from various primary and secondary schools in and around here were given exposure to the game of rugby for the first time when they participated in a two-day sports development programme themed ‘Coaching clinic and Get in to Rugby’ at the football field of SK Kapit.
Among the secondary schools were SMK Kapit and SMK Kapit 2 while the primary schools involved were SK Nanga Bawai, SK Lepong Baleh, SK Kapit, SK Nanga Bawai, SK Kampong Baru and SK Sungai Kapit.
The programme to introduce rugby to students in Sarawak was sponsored by the Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur and the coordinators were Sarawak Sports Council, Sarawak Rugby Association, Miri Division Rugby Association and SK Kapit.
The panel of coaches were headed by Scottish rugby coach, Landale Cranfield, chief rugby coach Sarawak Nacani Seniu and assisted by Beniamino Soso, Sylvia Alexander Lian, Embran Mohd Ali, Larry Galka, Stancy Ling Eng An, Anthony Lawai, Sarawak Sukma rugby player Josie Mavcelin and officer in charge of Sarawak rugby, Amirul Ismaili.
The teacher in charge from SK Kapit were Mohamad Hairullah Noordin and Ahmad Akmal Khuzaiman
The clinic aimed to introduce rugby to the students and to identify young potential talents, especially among the girls to take up rugby.
It was also to train the sport teachers to introduce rugby to their students. Meanwhile, the clinic has been held in several divisions including Miri, Bintulu, Sibu, Kapit with Belaga next.
Landale was happy to note that the programme met an encouraging response and the participants were very enthusiastic.
He added that the coaches have identified at least three girls and two boys as the potential and talented rugby players in Kapit district.
