National rugby team flies flag in international debut<\/p>\n
Geoffrey Atkinson
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia is set to be awarded full membership in the Asian
\nRugby Football Union (ARFU) following a historic silver-medal
\nperformance in the exhibition games played in conjunction with
\nthe 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila last weekend.<\/p>\n
It was the first time a full national team has represented
\nIndonesia, and also the first full international to be played on
\nPhilippine soil.<\/p>\n
"This is a great honor and a giant step forward for Indonesian
\nrugby," said Indonesian Development Rugby (IDR) president Andrew
\nNugroho on his return from the seven-a-side tournament in Manila.
\nIt reflects the hard work of the committee and the dedication of
\nour Indonesian players whose efforts on the field have made all
\nthis possible. We are extremely proud of them."<\/p>\n
Indonesia's ARFU status will be ratified at the All-Asian
\nbody's annual meeting at Lahore in Pakistan next week and comes
\nless than two years after Indonesian Development Rugby was formed
\nin Jakarta. The Lahore meeting will be attended by IDR secretary
\nBill Ryan.<\/p>\n
The Philippine exhibition tournament -- which brought together
\n12 teams from around the region -- is expected to see rugby
\nfootball receive official SEA Games status before 2007 in
\nThailand.<\/p>\n
"We are hopeful as a full national team that we will be in the
\nmedal running," Andrew said.<\/p>\n
Only Indonesia and the Philippines managed to field full
\nnational sides last weekend. Both Singapore and Macau had entered
\nnational teams, but where made up predominantly by expatriate
\nplayers. The tournament was won by Borneo who fielded six, full-
\ntime rugby professionals from Fiji in the finals. They beat the
\nSingapore Barbarians 50-5.<\/p>\n
In the national final the Philippines beat Indonesia 27-5. The
\n16-man Indonesian squad had players from West Irian, Jakarta,
\nKalimantan and North Maluku. All players received field time in
\nthe five matches played on the weekend.<\/p>\n
"Bringing together players from all over Indonesia is our
\nmajor challenge," said Andrew. "We are trying to establish
\nregional competitions in as many provinces as possible and
\nconcentrate on rugby at school and junior levels."<\/p>\n
All of this will take funding and manpower.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia has a mighty rugby nursery -- the trick for us will
\nbe establishing teams, providing coaching and facilities all over
\nthe nation and then gathering them together under one umbrella
\nfor national matches," Andrew said.<\/p>\n
"The vast distances and costs of air travel and accommodation
\nmean we have a lot to work on." Indonesian rugby is an amateur
\norganization run by a committee that donates its time for free.<\/p>\n
They are sponsored by multinational construction company
\nThiess and the Kabelvision cable network.<\/p>\n
With acceptance to the ARFU, Indonesia is expected to form the
\nIndonesia Rugby Football Union (IRFU) now operating under the
\nIndonesian Development Rugby (IDR) banner. The IDR will continue
\nto assist with development of national players and juniors, but
\nthe IRFU will take over full responsibility for the running of
\nthe game in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"We are now in a league of nations where rugby is largely
\nadministered and coached by full-time professionals from around
\nthe globe," Andrew said. "We are hoping businesses and
\nindividuals in Indonesia will be part of our growing support
\nbase. It'ss a big challenge but it's a challenge we are looking
\nforward to."<\/p>\n
Indonesia's next major international is expected to be at the
\n2006 Asia Rugby Championships in Sri Lanka.<\/p>",
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