KUALA LUMPUR: The national rugby sevens team have left early for the United Kingdom to get some much needed matches under their belt ahead of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games from July 28-Aug 8.
The squad, who departed from Kuala Lumpur International Airport yesterday, are scheduled to play British Army, Fiji Barbarians, Cardiff Blues and the China national squad in a series of friendlies.
Coach Saizul Hafifi Md Noor said his team lack quality opposition due to Covid-19 restrictions earlier.
"We have been lacking in terms of (quality) friendlies, and were limited to playing against local teams here in Malaysia.
"Thankfully, the Covid situation has improved, and we have been able to secure a number of friendly matches before the Commonwealth Games, including with the China team who happen to be training in the UK.
"We will also be training alongside a number of UK teams."
Malaysia qualified for the Commonwealth Games after finishing in the top two among the Commonwealth nations (behind Sri Lanka) in the Asian Sevens Series competition last year.
Malaysia have been grouped together with Tonga, Scotland and South Africa in the pool stage of the Commonwealth Games.
The squad: Ameer Nasrun Zulkefli, Suhairi Effendi Mohd Othman, Kamal Hamidi Mohd Raihan, Shah Izwan bin Nordin, Wan Azley Wan Omar, Azizul Hakim Che Oon, Safiy Md Said, Azwan Zuwairi Mat Zizi, Eddie Ariff Mohd Ferdaus Freedy, Adam Ariff Alias, Amalul Hazim Nasarrudin, Daim Zainuddin, Hafiezie Sudin, Harith Iqbal Muhamad Anhar, Ahmad Zulhilmi Azizad.