KUALA LUMPUR: Cobra rugby club are confident that they will be among the contenders when their home tournament, the Cobra 10s, kicks off at Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya tomorrow.
Cobra vice president Nazarudin Borhan, who was in charge of assembling the Cobra squad this year, disclosed that 14 players from New Zealand have been roped in for the competition. They will be complemented by two Malaysian players.
This is the first time the competition is being held since the Covid-19 pandemic. Cobra won it the last time it was held in 2019.
"We have brought in Mike Rogers, who is currently Manawatu Turbos coach, to guide the Cobra team for the tournament," said Nazarudin when met recently.
"Rogers has sourced the 14 players for us, they are from various provincial teams in New Zealand.
"We will also have four local players training with the squad before the competition starts. The coach will choose two for the tournament.
"I believe we have a good chance of winning it, we have a good group of players this year.
"But having said that there will also be at least three or four other teams who will be considered among the contenders.
"Daveta (Fiji), who arrived early here, just won the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens last week and are in very good form. Meanwhile, Port Moresby Harlequins (Papua New Guinea) are looking lean and mean.
"Teams from New Zealand such as Palmerston North, Global Lions and Pakuranga United also cannot be taken lightly."
Daveta, champions in 2012, 2017 and 2018, as well as Harlequins arrived in Malaysia on Monday and Tuesday respectively.
Prior to winning it in 2019, Cobra had not won their home tournament since 2008.
Cobra squad (longlist): Joel Hintz, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Millennium Sanerivi, Joseph Gavigan, Slade McDowall, Samuel Smith, Samuel Fischli, Leone Nawai, Drew Wild, Kyle Brown, Taniela Filimone, Pena Va"a, Te Rangatira Waitokia, Nazhiim Shahruddin, Firdaus Emir, Noor Alif Ikhmal Noor Hisham, Shree Sharman