World rugby body banks on Ridzal

SINGAPORE — The International Rugby Board (IRB) has ramped up its presence in the region with an office in Singapore and appointed the former general manager of the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU), Ridzal Saat, as its services manager for Asia.

The 42-year-old is currently deputy director for development and planning with the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), but has handed his resignation and is serving three months’ notice.

His appointment comes when the SRU has stepped up efforts to take the sport to another level.

The SRU, in partnership with Hong Kong’s Carinet Sports Marketing, recently launched the inaugural World Club 10s, which was held last month at the Sports Hub.

Both are pushing for Singapore to be the home base of the Asia Pacific Dragons, the frontrunners to play in Super Rugby — billed as the sport’s toughest club competition in the world.

“This is an important appointment for the IRB and, in particular, for rugby in Asia,” said David Carrigy, IRB’s head of development and international relations, in a statement.

“Ridzal brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge of sport in Asia and he has the right skillset to continue the good groundwork achieved in what is strategically a very important region for us.

“Rugby is growing rapidly in Asia and it still has a huge amount of potential for further development.

“With Rugby World Cup 2019 coming up in Japan and the Olympic Games 2020 in Tokyo also on the horizon, the coming years will be extremely important as we look to manage and make the most of that continuing growth.”

Ridzal, whose brother is former Singapore national football captain Razali Saad, left the SRU to join the FAS in January 2011 as deputy director of marketing and competitions before taking up his present appointment. The FAS stint, he said, has prepared him well for the IRB post.

“This new position at the IRB will be a challenging and demanding one, but I am certain that what I have learnt in my time with local football will stand me in good stead,” he said.

During his tenure at FAS, Ridzal helped implement several key programmes and strategies for the development of young players and his departure will leave a huge gap.

Said FAS general secretary Winston Lee: “Ridzal has been a key member of our team and it is with regret that I have accepted his resignation.

“However, I know rugby is the other sporting passion in his life and that he is a very suitable candidate for this new regional role at the IRB.”