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AN OVERVIEW OF EAGLES RUGBY CLUB SANDAKAN

Eagles Rugby Club Sandakan was formerly known as Sandakan Rugby Club Sabah (SRC) which was first granted registration by the Registrar of Societies on 24th February 2005.

However, in compliance with our country’s Sports Development Act of 1997, we have registered under the Sabah Sports Commissioner’s Office on 3rd October 2012 under registration No. 04/5449/2012(SBH) and became known as Eagles Rugby Club Sandakan (ERC).

Our club has right of use and management of a clubhouse building, two rugby pitches and other facilities built on 5 acres of prime land located at Bandar Utama, Mile 6, Jalan Utara, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia. In fact the entire set-up has become a sports landmark for Sandakan. Even the road leading to our club has now been officially named Eagles Avenue.

It is one of the very few sports facilities, if not the only, in Malaysia that was planned, designed and purpose-built specifically with the game of rugby in mind. In short, the club building, amenities and the pitches are all ‘rugby-centric’.

Our clubhouse has other facilities like an international standard futsal court which is open to booking by the public. It has since become the preferred venue for major futsal events and tournaments in Sandakan.

Another useful facility at ERC is the 4-storey building which houses a kitchen & dining hall, coaches’ quarters and a dormitory capable of accommodating up to 60 players comfortably.

Ever since its completion this facility has greatly benefited school children coming from the rural areas to take part in rugby training or tournaments held in Sandakan. The facility is also open to public booking.

Needless to say, the centre of attention is our main international-size rugby pitch. The setup features viewing rooms for VIPs, 2 grand stands with a seating capacity of over 2,500 spectators, a media centre for reporters, a commentators’ room for live broadcasts, viewing towers for photographers and video recording crew and a host of other amenities to make the venue a perfect place conducive for hosting major events. Not surprisingly, over the years we have successfully hosted a string of state and international level events.

More recently, we have upgraded our high performance cross training centre with a fully equipped gymnasium that features state of the art training equipment. Named “The Warehouse”, this sprawling edifice even has its own cosy cafeteria (The Grind) which serves healthy snacks and drinks.

The Warehouse has also established itself as a premier centre for the fitness-conscious generation to live up to their healthy life-style. Experienced and qualified trainers are available to help and guide those patronising The Warehouse. Fitness lessons are also conducted by instructors at designated times. Among courses conducted was a weightlifting course and competition held under the watchful eyes of qualified personnel, Zumba dance classes, etc.

Finally, within the main building itself is the centrally located VIP visitors room with its own viewing terrace overlooking the main rugby pitch. It has its own kitchen to entertain guests. It comprises a main meeting room and several other function rooms to host seminars and indoor courses. These have been used for community programmes such as blood donation drives, preparing food baskets for distribution to the needy, especially during the 2 years of Covid-19 Movement Control Order, programmes for children and other social activities.

MESSAGE FROM THE CLUB PRESIDENT

THE EAGLES RUGBY CLUB BEARERS

COACHING AND JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT

Eagles Rugby Club is very much involved in the promotion and development of the game in Sabah.

At substantial expense, we have engaged highly qualified foreign coaches and players to help lift the game to higher levels through well planned programmes and regular training.

Together with Sabah Rugby Union, the Sabah Education Department and our new anchor sponsor KLK Sawit Nusantara Berhad, we are building a sustainable reservoir of young rugby talents through the Sabah Academy for Rugby Excellence where over 100 schools throughout Sabah are involved.

The number of mid and long-term projects and plans being implemented and constantly upgraded are expected to bear fruit in the near future and our home state of Sabah should reap the benefits and reaffirm itself as a premier rugby force in the country.

ORGANISING AND SUPPORTING TOURNAMENTS

Eagles Rugby Club, jointly with Sabah Rugby Union and our key sponsors, also provides all necessary support to the Sabah School Sports Council to organize and promote numerous junior tournaments such as all MSSS and MSSM rugby events.

Our coaches regularly assist at rugby camps and clinics which were usually organized in preparation for tournaments.

ERC also directly organizes and sources funds for two major annual tournaments targeting school children.

The annual 10s and 7s Age-Group events continue to be key components of the Sabah junior rugby calendar drawing overwhelming participation from schools all over Sabah - so much so that housing the hundreds of students became a major challenge by itself.

ERC has also developed good networking with international rugby clubs and in 2011 twenty Under-14 students accompanied by 2 officials were sent to New Zealand for a 3-week rugby learning attachment which included attending training camps at a leading rugby institution there and playing in local tournaments. Another training/learning excursion to New Zealand was successfully organized at the end of 2012 with Under-16 and Under-20 boys having their turn to experience rugby boot camps in Auckland. The programme continued in 2014 when another batch of twenty Under-15 youth underwent 23 days of training at rugby academies in New Zealand.

Similar learning/playing tours are also planned to Fiji and Samoa in the future.

In conclusion, ERC have set in place both short and long term strategies that aim to cement a firm foundation for the future of the game in Sabah.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

2002

★ Borneo 10s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ Royal Brunei Yacht Rugby Club & Labuan Rugby Club International Rugby 10s (Cup Champion)


2003

★ Borneo 10s International Clubs (Cup Champion)


2004

★ 4th COBRA 10s Borneo (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 10s International Clubs (Cup Champion)


2005

★ 4th Labuan International Rugby 10s (Cup Champion)
★ Alor Star City International 7s (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 10s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ Manila SEA Games International 7s (Gold Medalist)
★ Singapore Cricket Club 7s (Plate Champion)


2006

★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Champion)
★ Negeri Sembilan Royal 7s (Cup Champion)
★ HSBC-COBRA International 10s (Plate Champion)


2007

★ Borneo 10s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ HSBC-COBRA International 10s (Cup Semifinalist)


2008

★ Jonah Jones International 7s (Cup Champion)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Plate Runner up)
★ Sri Lanka Airlines 7s (Cup Champion)
★ Singapore Cricket Club 7s (Plate Champion)


2009

★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Champion)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Plate Semifinalist)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Plate Champion)
★ HSBC-COBRA International 10s (Cup Champion)

2010

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Champion)
★ SRU President’s Cup* (Cup Champion)
★ Singapore Cricket Club 7s (Cup Semifinalist)
★ Negeri Sembilan Royal 7s (Cup Champion)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Cup Q’finalist)
★ Asian Rugby 7s Series (new Delhi) (Cup Champion)


2011

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Champion)
★ SRU President’s Cup* (Cup Champion)
★ Singapore Cricket Club 7s (Cup Runner up)
★ 42ndHSBC-COBRA International 10s (Cup Semifinalist)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Cup Semifinalist)


2012

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Runner up)
★ SRU President’s Cup* (Cup Champion)
★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Runner up)
★ Jonah Jones International 7s (Cup Champion)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Plate Champion)
★ 27th International Baram Trophy (Cup Champion)
★ 43rd HSBC-COBRA International 10s (Cup Semifinalist)


2013

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Runnerup)
★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Champion)
★ Jonah Jones International 7s (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Runner up)
★ 44th HSBC-COBRA International 10s (Cup Champion)


2014

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Semifinalist)
★ GFI Hong Kong FC 10s (Plate Champion)
★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Runner up)
★ KK Sharks Kaamatan 10s* (Cup Champion)
★ World Club 10s Singapore - Men’s Asia Open (Cup Champion)
★ Singapore Cricket Club 7s (Cup Champion)
★ Tawau 10s Open* (Cup Champion)


2015

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Champion)


2016

★ Heinekan Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Semifinalist)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ Malaysia Rugby Union’s National Inter-Club Championships / Super Cup (Cup Champion)
★ Kota Kinabalu Super League* (Cup Champion)
★ Cobra International 10s (Cup Champion)
★ Langkawi International 10s (Cup semifinalists)


2017

★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ Air Asia Malaysia Rugby League Championships (Cup Runner up)
★ Kota Kinabalu Super League* (Cup Champion)
★ Cobra International 10s (Cup Runner up)
★ Labuan International 10s (Cup Champion)
★ East Malaysia Premier League (Cup champion)


2018

★ Coca-Cola Hottest 7s in the World (Darwin) (Cup Champion)
★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Runner up)
★ Singapore Regional Club Midnight 10s (Cup Champion)
★ Labuan International 10s (Cup Champion)


2019

★ Borneo 7s International Clubs (Cup Champion)
★ ERC Midnight 10s (Cup Champion)


2020

No tournaments permitted due to Covid-19 pandemic


2021

★ Aramai 10s (Cup Runnerup)


2022

★ Labuan 10s (Champion)
★ Sandakan Vivian Cup 7s (Champion)