KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Rugby (MR) is looking to get their naturalised player programme back on track to strengthen the national squad.
MR honorary secretary Fahmy said the implementation of the programme, which was previously planned during former MR president Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya's tenure, had been delayed for various reasons.
MR's plan previously was to offer talented young players in their late teens from Pacific Island nations scholarships to study and play domestically in Malaysia. After five years, they would be eligible to play for the national team.
"The plan to work with the Higher Education Ministry went silent following the changes in government," said Fahmy when met recently.
"But I still think it is a good idea and we will look to present this plan to the relevant authorities and restart the process.
"There are, however, a number of factors we must study first such as the intake criteria (for placement at higher education institutions), the financial commitment involved as well as World Rugby (WR) eligibility rules.
"WR has introduced new rules which we have to study. From what I understand, players who have grandparents who have lived here (Malaysia) before can also be eligible for naturalised player status now.
"Previously, only those who have played here for five years or more would be eligible to play in the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) top-tier."
Fahmy believes it will take some time for the programme to bear fruit, adding that in the meantime the national squad can still call on expatriate players who have spent more than five years working here.
"I don't think we will be able to get this programme started this year. It will take some time, hopefully we can get it running in the new few years," said Fahmy.
"Our current naturalised (professional) players are already aging, but we can still call up expatriate players to help boost our squad for now. We have yet to decide on our squad for ARC this year."
Malaysia has traditionally depended on naturalised players from Fiji, usually professional players who ply their trade with clubs or states here, to strengthen the national team.
Expatriate players, usually from European countries, work and play social rugby in Malaysia.
Malaysia will compete in the ARC top-tier division in June. The competition has been expanded to four teams this year - Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong and newly promoted United Arab Emirates.