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Umaga is just what S’pore rugby needs

SINGAPORE — Former New Zealand All Blacks captain Tana Umaga’s interest to coach a Singapore franchise bidding to play in the prestigious Super Rugby championship will give the local game a huge boost, said Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) president Low Teo Ping.

Umaga has expressed interest in taking permanent charge of the Dragons. GETTY IMAGES

Umaga has expressed interest in taking permanent charge of the Dragons. GETTY IMAGES

SINGAPORE — Former New Zealand All Blacks captain Tana Umaga’s interest to coach a Singapore franchise bidding to play in the prestigious Super Rugby championship will give the local game a huge boost, said Singapore Rugby Union (SRU) president Low Teo Ping.

The competition involves clubs in the southern hemisphere from Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, and governing body SANZAR is expanding it from 15 to 18 teams from the 2016 season.

Asia has been handed one spot, along with one from South Africa and one from Argentina, and Singapore are in a straight fight with Japan to enter a team for what is widely described as the toughest rugby club competition in the world.

If successful, the Republic will field the Asia Pacific Dragons, which is currently an invitational side that previously fielded notable players from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Australia and the All Blacks.

Over the weekend, Umaga expressed interest in taking permanent charge of the Dragons, whom he has coached from time to time, should they be given the green light.

“There are a few positions up for grabs at the moment and I’m interested in looking at all of the options,” Umaga, who is currently head coach of Kiwi side Counties Manukau, told New Zealand’s Sunday News.

“If it does come to that, and I’m one of the ones that’s asked to apply, then I’ll look at it.”

The 41-year-old, who guided the Dragons to third spot in the World Club 10s here last month, added he was behind Singapore’s Super Rugby bid because the infrastructure here will be good for the Dragons, especially the new National Stadium.

Speaking from Glasgow, where he is chef de mission for the Republic’s Commonwealth Games contingent, Low told TODAY Umaga can help draw more people to the sport here.

“We can’t say much until we know for certain we get into Super Rugby,” said Low. “But to get someone of Umaga’s stature here for the Dragons, if they get the nod, will be a tremendous coup for Singapore rugby. We need top names to help grow the sport here and you can’t get any better than Umaga.”

The Dragons’ permanent roster is expected to consist mostly of players from the Pacific Island nations such as Tonga, Samoa and Fiji. The Dragons are also expected to help develop the local talent pool with the aim of recruiting the more promising ones into the side in future.

But their bid has come under attack from Japan coach Eddie Jones, who said the East Asian side had a stronger rugby footprint and described Singapore’s bid as a “joke”.

Jones, who coached Australia from 2001 to 2005, said SANZAR would lose credibility if it endorsed the Singapore’s bid.

Without referring to Jones’s comments, SRU technical director Inoke Afeaki said a Singapore entry under Umaga will give a good account in any competition. The former Tonga captain has known the Kiwi since they were 11 years old and added the former All Blacks centre was a rare talent who made a successful transition from player to coach.

“He has the ability to resonate with players at the highest levels and to get them playing together,” said Afeaki. “We have seen that in his stints with the Dragons and he will leave a great legacy for rugby here if the Dragons play in the Super competition. It will be great to work with him to develop young players here and I am looking forward to that coming true.”

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