Royal Selangor Club
The Royal Selangor Club, The Dog, is one of Asia’s oldest sporting clubs. Founded in 1884, exclusively for the use of the British expatriate community, it is now truly a Malaysian institution.
The Club is still located on its original site adjacent to what is now called Dataran Merdeka in the heart of old Kuala Lumpur. The mock Tudor façade of the RSC complex makes it one of KL’s most recognizable and valued architectural sites.
In 1997, the RSC opened up its sports annexe in Bukit Kiara. This facility has rugby/soccer, hockey and cricket pitches and lawn/hard-court tennis courts. It is also equipped with a gymnasium and swimming pool. Out of all the facilities, the Pavilion Bar, modelled on the legendary Long Bar in the original Selangor Club is probably the most heavily used. The rugby section is one of 22 sporting sections at the club, which includes soccer, golf, cricket, hockey, as well as being home to the Hash House Harriers.
Rugby has been played at the Selangor Club since 1892 and through history the composition of the rugby team was a reflection of the times. A glance of past Dog teams on the walls of the Long Bar and the Pavilion Bar will attest to this. Today, the current crop of RSC players combines talented and enthusiastic Malaysians and various expired internationals and demonstrates how much Malaysia has changed since independence.
The Dog is known as “The Home of Malaysian Rugby”. Being the first to actively play the sport in historical Malaya, it has earned the RSC this sobriquet. Today the RSC also stages the annual Jonah Jones 7s, and with the first one being held in 1962, it is Asia’s oldest on-going 7-a-side tournament. The recent instalments of the tournament have been a great success with over 60 teams participating.
Being part of a sports club, the Rugby Section of the Royal Selangor Club has, and continues to contribute to the development of the sport within Malaysia. Many state, national and internationals have come through the ranks of the Club, with the current crop of players being no push-overs as well. On top of having three senior teams participating in the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Selangor League, it also boasts a Colts side (U-21) that participates in Division 3. It has Junior Rugby Program for children between the ages of 5 and 17, with over 150 kids learning the game every Saturday morning. It has an established veteran’s side for over 35 year olds and ladies touch-rugby team as well. Most recently, it has established a women’s team, the one and only in the country, which competes in the Singapore league.
The Rugby Section has prided itself on being gracious hosts to visiting sides throughout its long history. The Club has played host to players and teams from almost all of the world’s rugby playing nations. Thanks to the Section, when foreigners, and locals, think of rugby in Malaysia, they invariably think of the Royal Selangor Club.
This reputation is further enhanced by the RSC’s love for touring. The Rugby Section tours at least once a year, primarily to neighbouring countries and throughout South East Asia. These tours capture the essence of amateur rugby – the sport, the camaraderie, and the inevitable parties. No more so than with the Dog on tour.
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Text courtesy: Ben Tok
Images courtesy: Ben Tok and Gareth Jones
