KUALA LUMPUR – With less than three days left before their crucial showdown against Hong Kong in the Asia Rugby Championship Premier Division this Saturday, Malaysia’s 15s rugby squad faces an uphill battle following the loss of another key player, Mohd Fairuz Abdul Rahman.
This latest setback deals a heavy blow to the team’s preparations as they gear up to meet the four-time champions at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Stadium in Serdang.
In a statement by the Malaysia Rugby Union today, it was confirmed that Fairuz had sustained a knee injury after a scan at the National Sports Institute yesterday.
Fairuz, a seasoned 39-year-old renowned for his versatility as both a fly-half and fullback, suffered the injury during the opening match against South Korea last Saturday.
“Fairuz, an experienced player will miss the remaining two matches of the Asia Rugby Championship Premier after suffering a knee injury.
“Fairuz came on as a substitute in the first match against the Korean team and had to be carried off during that match.
“Early treatment detected a tear in the ligament which will undoubtedly require him to rest for a long period,” stated Malaysia Rugby.
In their previous match at Namdong Stadium in Incheon, the Bunga Raya squad, led by Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar, suffered a resounding 55-5 defeat, leaving them at the bottom of the Premier Division standings.
Fairuz’s absence not only poses a challenge for the upcoming match against Hong Kong but also means he will miss the last match against the United Arab Emirates, which is seen as a crucial match to determine Malaysia’s fate in the Premier Division.
Adding to the team’s woes, prior to Fairuz’s injury, the national squad had already been depleted by the absence of Azwan Zuwairi due to health issues and Mohd Amin Jamaluddin due to dengue fever. – June 5, 2024