108 TEAMS WILL ENTERTAIN MALAYSIA'S LARGEST RUGBY CARNIVAL

The 14th Edition of the Johor Rugby Carnival 2026 returns with even more excitement as 108 school and club teams from all over Malaysia compete in the rugby tournament, one of the main events on the national rugby calendar.

The carnival will take place over three days, from 25 to 27 September 2026, at the Johor Rugby Stadium, Mount Austin Sports Complex, Johor.

The carnival, organised by the Johor State Rugby Union (JRU) in collaboration with the Johor State Sports Council (MSNJ), the Johor State Education Department (JPNJ) and the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB), brings together the best teams from across the country in four main categories, namely Under-16 Boys, Under-14 Boys, Under-11 Boys and Under-16 Girls.

This edition will also see the Tun Hussein Onn State Sports School (THOR) team from Johor on a mission to defend their titles after emerging double champions in the Under-14 and Under-16 Boys categories at the previous edition.

The presence of high-profile teams from various states, including Sabah and Sarawak, is expected to provide stiffer competition, demonstrating the development and improving quality of rugby at the grassroots level.

Johor State Rugby Union President, Dato' Hj Mohd Noorazam bin Dato' Hj Osman, said the organisation of the Johor Rugby Carnival, now entering its 14th edition, proves that the tournament is growing stronger as one of the important platforms in the development of national rugby.

"After 14 editions, the Johor Rugby Carnival has become one of the most important events in the rugby calendar in Malaysia. The organisation of this carnival is also in line with the aspirations of the Johor State Government, especially in Visit Johor Year 2026, as well as efforts to continue developing the rugby ecosystem in the state of Johor.

"By organising tournaments like this, we can provide a broader platform for young players to gain competition experience, uncover new talent and strengthen the development of rugby at the grassroots level.

"We hope that the Johor Rugby Carnival will continue to grow and, in the future, become one of the rugby carnivals known not only in Malaysia, but also on the international rugby calendar," he said.

The 14th Edition of the Johor Rugby Carnival 2026 also received support and sponsorship from Dialog Group Berhad, JCORP Corporation, Safwa Global Venture Sdn Bhd, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, Joland Group, Permodalan Darul Ta'zim, Iskandar Investment Berhad, Faiz Sports, Rugger District and Arie Sportswear.

Support from various parties, including strategic partners, sponsors, government agencies, schools, clubs and the rugby community, is very important in ensuring the continuity and development of the Johor Rugby Carnival as a high-impact rugby development platform.

The 14th Edition of the Johor Rugby Carnival 2026 is not just a competition arena, but also a platform to uncover young talent, build networks between schools and clubs, strengthen the rugby community and popularise the sport of rugby in the state of Johor.

With the participation of 108 teams from all over Malaysia, including teams from Sabah and Sarawak, the carnival, which takes place from 25 to 27 September 2026 at the Johor Rugby Stadium, Mount Austin Sports Complex, is expected to present three days of competitive, intense rugby action full of sportsmanship.