A double triumph in Serdang has strengthened Kedah’s growing reputation as one of Malaysia’s leading rugby development states.

Kedah’s emergence as one of Malaysia’s strongest rugby development states continued as they claimed a historic double victory at the NRDP National Under-18 Sevens Rugby Championship 2026, winning both the men’s and women’s titles at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Rugby Field in Serdang.

Defeating regional heavyweights in back-to-back finals, the northern state claimed both the Men’s and Women’s titles in emphatic fashion.

Organized by the Malaysian Rugby Union (KRM) through the National Rugby Development Programme (NRDP), the tournament brought together 32 teams—16 men’s and 16 women’s squads under the age of 18—representing member unions from across the country in a fast-paced showcase of grassroots talent.

Kedah Deliver in the Finals

Kedah’s men’s team delivered a dominant display in the final, defeating Selangor 24-5 to lift the championship trophy, while Johor secured third place and Negeri Sembilan finished fourth.

The women’s side matched that achievement with an equally impressive performance, overcoming Johor 17-7 in the final to complete Kedah’s double celebration. Melaka finished third, followed by Pahang in fourth.

“This remarkable achievement is the result of commitment, discipline, and hard work from the players, coaches, and team officials, alongside the unwavering support of parents,” the Kedah Darul Aman Rugby Union said in an official statement celebrating the historic double.

Grassroots Growth and Technical Progress

Beyond the silverware, tournament organizers highlighted a noticeable rise in the technical quality of play across the board compared to previous editions.

“Overall, the quality of play has definitely improved,” noted NRDP Program Manager Mohd Irwan Abdol. “We saw a marked difference from last year in terms of technique and safety. The rate of serious injuries remained low because players have mastered core fundamentals much better.”

Irwan also emphasized that the competition unearthed fresh talent outside the traditional state networks. “The players here represent a different talent pool from the SUKMA squads.

We saw many new faces emerge, particularly with the rise of women’s teams like Melaka and Pahang, who fought their way to the semifinals.”

The Road to Qingdao: Asian Championship Call-Up

For the top performers in Serdang, the championship served as the primary selection ground for the national team. Up next is the 2026 Emirates 7s Under-18 Asian Rugby Championship, scheduled for September 5–6 in Qingdao, China.

KRM has announced the appointment of Mohd Syahir Asraf Rosli as Head Coach for the National U18 Men’s squad, while Rozliana Ridwan takes charge of the National U18 Women’s team.

“For this selection phase, we will initially name an 18-player training squad before trimming it down to the final 13 players who will board the flight to Qingdao,” stated KRM President Amir Amri. He noted that physical conditioning, speed, and transitional agility remain the primary criteria for the final roster.

Malaysia will look to build on its performance from the 2025 edition in Hohhot, China, where the men’s squad finished fifth and the women’s team placed seventh. KRM has set a firm target of reaching the semifinal stage in both categories this year.

The shortlisted national squad will assemble at UPM for two centralized training camps throughout August and early September before departing for Qingdao.