Bit By Bit, Indonesian Students Embrace Rugby

Unlike the cheering supporters, there was no smile on Anggara Raudha’s face on Wednesday.

The SMA 3 Jakarta captain saw his team struggle during a touch rugby Sevens tournament held by the Indonesian Rugby Football Union at Labschool Kebayoran in Jakarta. The tournament featured boys and girls from six schools across the capital.


SMA 3 Jakarta, the first government-run school to embrace rugby, lost 1-0 to the host and 2-0 to Darunnajah Islamic Boarding School.

However, Anggara’s frustration did not curb his enthusiasm.

“This is the very first tournament for us since we started to practice the game in August last year. I’m so excited,” the 17-year-old said.

Darujannah won the boys’ division of the tournament after three games, while Labschool took the girls’ title.

Anggara was one of 40 students at SMA 3 to join its rugby team after the game was introduced into the school’s curriculum.

As someone who enjoys the prospect of contact, Anggara saw rugby as a natural fit for him.

“I love rugby for its contact. I used to see the game on television played by foreigners, and now I play it for real,” he said.

Boys were not the only ones enjoying themselves out on the pitch on Wednesday.

Girls like Jasmine Oetoro got in on the fun, too. Jasmine, a Labschool student, joined her school’s rugby team in March 2008 after it was introduced as an extracurricular program.

It offered her an escape from the grind of class and homework, though not everyone in her family approved of the idea.

“Mom wanted me to take a traditional dancing class, to be a traditional dancer just like her,” the third-year student said after Labschool’s 4-1 victory against SMA 3. “I wanted to learn something new, and that was rugby.”

At first she was wary of injury because of rugby’s physical contact. But coach Iswahyudi, who introduced the game at her school, convinced her to continue playing.

“So far, my only injury has been to my left ring finger,” she said with a smile.

“I hope the game can continue to develop in the future,” she added. “I hope it can exceed the popularity of [Jakarta football team] Persija one day, and that rugby team supporters will be able to ride a convoy of buses through the streets, singing their team’s anthem.”

Iswahyudi, 25, introduced rugby to students at Labschool and SMA 3 last year, and he said that the game received a warm welcome.

“More kids have registered to join the sport since we introduced the game,” he said. “I think rugby’s prospects are good for years to come.”

The sport received a worldwide boost when rugby Sevens joined golf on the shortlist for addition to the 2016 Summer Olympics. A final decision on their inclusion is expected on Oct. 2 at the International Olympic Committee Session in Copenhagen, Denmark.

“Well, the 2016 Olympics is still a long way to go, but of course we want to be there,” IRFU rugby development officer Sam Refshauge said. “We’ll need a long-term development program to achieve that.”

(This article was published on www.thejakartaglobe.com on August 19, 2009. Photo: Afriadi Hikmal/JG)