Indonesia runner-up in Asian rugby tourney

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Mon, 07/10/2006 5:07 PM

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia finished second to host Cambodia during its debut at the inaugural Asian Rugby Championships in Phnom Penh recently.

Competing in the Asian Division 6 Championships, the country's 28-man squad was downed by eventual winner Cambodia (7-30) in its first match on June 27, before bouncing back to win against Laos (34-12) on June 29 and Brunei Darussalam (32-20) on July 1.

All teams played three full XVs matches in the competition.

A release from the Indonesian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) on Sunday said the team received a mounting support from Indonesians living in Cambodia, including Ambassador Nurrachman Oerip, during the five-day matches at Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium. The organizers said the support for Indonesia team ""was immeasurable"".

The ambassador also honored the squad with a formal reception at the embassy.

""It was an absolute honor to stand arm-in-arm prior to each match as the national anthem Indonesia Raya was heard and then go out onto the pitch wearing the national strip,"" said Fikri Al-Azhar from Jakarta.

""This is just the start for Indonesian rugby,"" said Steve Barber, IRFU vice-president and one of eight expatriates in the squad. ""It's an experience I will always cherish as much as it was to earn an International Test Cap for Indonesia. There's a great future for rugby in Indonesia.""

The Indonesian squad came from right across the archipelago and included Kirk Arundale, who traveled from England to join the team, and Dwikie Pinontoan from Dubai. Strong performances from Niko Alfius-Imerson and Daniel Kobak (West Papua); Daniel Nugroho and Fikri Al-Azhar (Jakarta); Markus Lahunde, Fentje Lala and Iksan Robo (Halmahera) proved Indonesia has the depth to make its mark on the international rugby arena.

Barber said it was also great to see some stalwarts of Indonesian Rugby, David Keefe, Rod Bridges, Warren Wilcox and Andries Smallberger lead the way for their Indonesian counterparts and pass on rugby knowledge to their younger teammates.

French coach Nico de Ribas led his team well and it was his call to reposition key players after the first round loss to Cambodia that proved vital in the team's wins against Laos and Brunei.

The team thanked sponsors -- Thiess Indonesia, Standard Chartered Bank, Digital 1, PAC and Canggu Club -- for making the tour possible. Barber said the continued development of junior and schools rugby in Indonesia would ensure the potential shown in Cambodia will continue to grow.

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