While hosts looking to repeat 2013 triumph

KUALA LUMPUR (28 February 2019): Defending champions of the MCKK Premier 7s, SMK Sri Mersing are not setting any high expectations for this year’s edition as the team will consist mainly of new faces.

Even though SMK Sri Mersing performed brilliantly which led them to claim the championship after upsetting Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (SSTMI) 14-12 in last year’s final, they will enter this year’s competition as underdogs.

SMK Sri Mersing’s coach Zulkefli Mohamad Amin explained that his squad consists of only two existing players from last year’s championship winning team.

He said, “We have been doing preparations and trainings for the past two weeks which also included several warm-up matches against teams from the MARA Junior Science College (MRSM). We will be fielding a fairly new squad with only two old guards as the majority of the players have finished their schooling years ”.

“We are aware that the journey to defend the championship is going to be a tough task. However, we will take this as a learning exposure to blood our new talents who are mostly in Form 4. This outing will provide the boys with the useful experience and preparation for next year’s edition which I believe they will be more mature together with a winning mentality to challenge for the top prize once again,” said Zulkefli.

According to coach Zulkefli, though his team is lined up with young players, they are working hard in training to improve the squad’s weaknesses and has the believe to at least challenge for the plate category.

Zulkefli added, “I am working on the team’s weaknesses especially in terms of their speed and other aspects of their game. Although it is going to be difficult to defend the title, I still hope that we can at least set a realistic goal and fight for the plate.”

As hosts for this year’s edition once again, Malay College Kuala Kangsar is determined to repeat their 2013’s MCKK Premier 7s championship success.

MCKK’s coach Mohd Romli Saad said, “We are aware that all the competing teams are on the rise and opportunities are open to all the teams.”

“This year, we certainly want to bring the championship back to the MCKK because we are aware that the Malay College Old Boy’s Association (MCOBA) has instilled a high expectation on the team. The players are ready, so I hope we can win the championship even though it’s going to be a tough task, “said Mohd Romli.

The tournament which is entering its ninth edition will witness 23 local teams and 1 foreign team challenging to claim the NJ Ryan Trophy will take place from March 1-3 at the MCKK rugby field.

For the record, SSTMI has won four titles in 2011, 2012, 2016 and 2017, MCKK (2013), Scots College New Zealand (2014), Hong Kong Sports School (2015) and SMK Sri Mersing in 2018.

TEAMS PARTICIPATING IN THE MCKK PREMIER 7S 2019:
1. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN ABI (PERLIS)
2. SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAINS POKOK SENA (KEDAH)
3. SEKOLAH MENENGAH SULTAN ABDUL HALIM (KEDAH)
4. THE MALAY COLLEGE KUALA KANGSAR (PERAK)
5. SEKOLAH TUANKU ABDUL RAHMAN (PERAK)
6. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN KING EDWARD VII (PERAK)
7. SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAINS HULU SELANGOR (SELANGOR)
8. SEKOLAH BERASRAMA PENUH INTEGRASI GOMBAK (SELANGOR)
9. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN JALAN TIGA (SELANGOR)
10. VICTORIA INSTITUTION (KUALA LUMPUR)
11. SEKOLAH SULTAN ALAM SHAH (PUTRAJAYA)
12. SEKOLAH DATO’ ABDUL RAZAK (NEGERI SEMBILAN)
13. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN KING GEORGE V (NEGERI SEMBILAN)
14. SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAINS MUZAFFAR SHAH (MELAKA)
15. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN SRI MERSING (JOHOR)
16. SEKOLAH SUKAN TUNKU MAHKOTA ISMAIL (JOHOR)
17. ENGLISH COLLEGE (JOHOR)
18. SEKOLAH BERASRAMA PENUH INTEGRASI KUANTAN (PAHANG)
19. SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAINS SULTAN MAHMUD (TERENGGANU)
20. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN SULTAN SULAIMAN (TERENGGANU)
21. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN SULTAN YAHYA PETRA 1 (KELANTAN)
22. SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN AGAMA SHEIKH HAJI OTHMAN ABDUL WAHAB
(SARAWAK)
23. SABAH COLLEGE KOTA KINABALU (SABAH)
24. SHIZUOKA SEIKO ACADEMY (JAPAN)