KUALA LUMPUR — Former national rugby sevens (7s) head coach Mohd Saizul Hafifi Md Noor has been appointed as the new head coach of Malaysia’s 15-a-side (15s) Bunga Raya squad, Malaysia Rugby president Amir Amri Mohamad has announced.
Amir confirmed that Saizul will take charge of the national team on a one-year contract, replacing Mohd Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar.
“Saizul’s first task will be to assemble the Bunga Raya squad ahead of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Championship playoff in April.
“However, we must wait for the outcome of the World Rugby meeting on February 18 to determine whether Sri Lanka will face Malaysia, which will confirm our participation in the championship,” he told reporters after a Malaysia Rugby meeting at the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) headquarters today.
Meanwhile, Amir also announced that the association has decided to retain both head coaches for the national men’s and women’s 7s teams—Nik Safuan Ismade Nik Man and Mohammad Faiz Samsukhidir, respectively.
Both coaches will lead their teams in the pursuit of medals at the SEA Games in Thailand this December. — February 15, 2025