CLUB RUGBY SCENE Since 2004, the IRFU has developed and managed Rugby in Indonesia, which seen a transformation from an expatriate domain for the 30 years prior to a sport dominated by Indonesian players, including many school age male and female players who previously had had no exposure to Rugby. The flagship of any national sporting organisation is its National Team and following the establishment of the Rhinos in 2006 it was clearly evident to the IRFU Board of Directors that the long term development and sustainability of Rugby in Indonesia and the international success of the Rhinos required the implementation of the “Rugby Goes to School” program in August 2007 to ensure the grassroots development of the sport. Coupled with schools development is the emergence of new Rugby clubs and the expansion of existing clubs throughout Indonesia, so as to allow players to continue playing and being involved with the sport throughout their lives. Rugby within Indonesia Prior to the establishment of the IRFU in May 2004, several Rugby clubs existed in Indonesia catering only for senior players. The number of Rugby clubs has increased dramatically since the IRFU’s foundation, as has the participation of Indonesian players, coaches and match officials. Currently, there are 16 Senior Rugby Teams within Indonesia. • Jakarta Bantengs (Jakarta) – 92% Indonesian, 8% expatriate • ISCI Komodos (Banten) – 100% expatriate • JJRG Samurai (Banten) – 100% Japanese expatriate • Jago Dulu (Jakarta) – 100% expatriate • Bandung Rams (West Java) – 80% Indonesian, 20% PNG expatriate • Bandung Ewes (West Java) – 75% Indonesian, 25% expatriate • Sengata Hornbills (East Kalimantan) – 90% Indonesian, 10% expatriate • Balikpapan Bears (East Kalimantan) – 80% Indonesian, 20% expatriate • Gosowong (North Maluku) – 100% Indonesian • Mantano Miners (SE Sulawesi) – 90% Indonesian, 10% expatriate • Banti Menagas (Papua) – 100% Indonesian • Kotekas (Papua) – 100% Indonesian • Sumbawa Nagas (West Nusa Tenggara)– 100% expatriate • Sumbawa Development (West Nusa Tenggara) – 100% Indonesian • Bali Stiff Chillis (Bali) – 20% Indonesian, 80% expatriate • Bali Red Chillis (Bali) – 100% Indonesian There has been a rapid growth of new Rugby clubs with 9 of the clubs listed on the previous page being established in the last 3 years. All Indonesian Rugby clubs are self-sufficient, relying on sponsors and player subscriptions for funding. Prior to the foundation of the IRFU, there were only two annual Rugby tournaments in Indonesia, namely the Jakarta 10’s (organised by the ISCI Rugby Club), which is held every May and the Bali 10’s (previously organised by a group of Rugby friends) played every October. The Jakarta 10’s has served as the Indonesian National Championships since 2005. Following the tragic death of an expatriate named Willy Ellison in June 2004, the IRFU founded an annual Rugby 15’s match to remember Willy, who had been a player for the ISCI Club during his time in Indonesia. The first Willy Ellison Memorial Cup match was played at the KPC Mine, Sengata, East Kalimantan in late 2004 between the Sangatta Saracens and ISCI Jakarta. Similar matches were played in 2005 and 2006, before this match was moved to Balikpapan in 2007, where it continues as an annual event. The Sengata Rugby 10’s tournament was first played in March 2008. This tournament saw the introduction of what became known as the ‘Sengata Rule’ meaning that at least 8 out of 10 players on the field must be Indonesian Nationals at all times. Teams from Balikpapan, Sengata, Jakarta, Bali and Gosowong competed in this tournament. August 2008, saw the establishment of a similar tournament in Sanur, Bali. This tournament involved teams from Sengata, Gosowong, Jakarta Bantengs, Bandung Rams, Banti Menagas, Kotekas and Bali Development team. The Bandung Ewes Women’s development team also competed in a women’s touch Rugby competition. The IRFU successfully ran the annual Bali 10’s Tournament in 2007-08. Both of these tournaments attracted all the club teams from within Indonesia as well as club teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. The IRFU decided to hand over the management and running of this tournament to the Bali Rugby Club in 2009. Note – Rugby 10’s is a non-IRB approved format of Rugby, although it is commonly played throughout SE Asia, as it involves a bit more forward play like Rugby 15’s. Rugby 10’s adopts the rules of Rugby 7’s and likewise it is played over 7-minute halves. In February 2008, the inaugural Jakarta XV’s Rugby Series was launched. This was a significant achievement for Indonesian Rugby as it saw four (4) club teams, namely the Jakarta Bantengs, ISCI Komodos, JJRG Samurai and the Bandung Rams competing in a round robin tournament held over two rounds. This tournament was significant for the IRFU as it was one of the requirements that allowed the Union to gain Associate Membership of the IRB. This tournament is now an official part of the annual Indonesian Rugby calendar, played each year from February through until late April. In 2010 this tournament will hopefully expand to include a fifth Rugby club. The 2010 Jakarta XV’s Series will serve as a great competition to allow Rhinos’ Selectors to gain a great insight into the quality of players available for selection in the National Squad. This squad will be supplemented by players from outside Jakarta, who will play in a series of selection trials planned for Bali and Balikpapan in mid-May.