THE lack of qualified coaches and interest among youngsters are the main causes of rugby decline in Malaysia.

Malaysia were once a well-respected team in the Asia.

But over the years, the standard of the game has deteriorated and countries like China, minnows in the past, are now performing better in international tournaments.

This is why Malaysia’s most popular rugby club – Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (Cobra) – together with England-based Penguin Coaching Academy have started a three-year development programme to provide Level 1 coaching courses for school teachers in the country.

The coaches are Penguin’s team coaching director Craig Brown, Tony Robinson and Stuart Power.

The trio were in Kuala Terengganu to conduct a week-long coaching course, which started on May 28 to train 33 selected school teachers in the State.

In March, Cobra had conducted the course in Kuala Lumpur. Similar courses would also be organised in Penang and Malacca in July and September respectively.

Cobra vice-president Lt Col (Rtd) Tommy Pereira said the association hoped teachers would promote the game in their respective schools.

“We expect by the end of the three-year programme, about 6,000 students, especially in the Under-15 level, will know the basics of rugby with the help of these teachers,” he said.