KOTA KINABALU: Debutant teams from the United Arab Emirates and China triumph at the KLK Borneo Sevens 2025, clinching both men’s and women’s titles at the Eagles Rugby Club in Sandakan on Sunday (April 20).
Shaheen 7s from the UAE narrowly defeated host favourites Borneo Eagles 22-19 in a thrilling men’s final, while Hua Gan Guo Ji RC from China overpowered defending champions Borneo Flyers 22-10 to win the women’s category.
The tournament, regarded as one of Asia’s top club rugby events, rewarded each champion with USD5,000 (RM24,000) and the prestigious Challenge Trophy. Runners-up received USD2,000 (RM9,500) each.
In the men’s match, Borneo Eagles led 14-10 at halftime, but Shaheen 7s secured victory with a last-minute try.
Shaheen player Mohamed Ali said the win was emotional and well-deserved.
"It was a tough match but we trusted each other and gave it everything we had," he said. "We didn’t stop until the whistle. We’re so happy to win on our first try, and inshallah, we will come again."
The women’s final was equally intense. Despite a strong effort by the Borneo Flyers, the Chinese team dominated with speed and discipline throughout the game.
Hua Gan Guo Ji RC player Wang XinYao said the win was unexpected given the strength of the other teams.
"We didn’t expect to perform this well, especially with so many strong teams here," she said. "But we adapted to different playing styles and were able to overcome the challenges."
The team, which competes in both domestic and international tournaments in China, might return next year depending on their schedule.
Vela Tan, President of the Eagles Rugby Club and Organising Chairman of the KLK Borneo Sevens 2025, said the success of debutant teams was a highlight of this year’s event.
"This might be Shaheen’s first major international outing beyond UAE, and they made it count. That’s what this tournament is about – raising standards, giving exposure and mentoring local players," he said.
Tan noted that out of 12 registered players in the Borneo Eagles squad, seven were local Sabahans.
"This is how we build capacity. We mix international players with locals so they learn discipline, decision-making and high-performance play," he said.
The tournament received a RM50,000 grant, which Tan described as timely support for organisers and participants.
"It went a long way, especially as we struggled with funding after I stepped back from the corporate world," he said. "This event has helped put Sandakan on the international rugby map, and we want to take it further."
Plans include introducing an international Under-18 championship as part of the junior division next year.
"The response from young players has been fantastic. We want to give them a bigger stage and bring in youth teams from across Asia. It’s the next step," he said.
Over the past two decades, the Borneo Sevens has grown into one of Asia’s most respected club tournaments, attracting teams from Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Spain and the region.
"We now have 150 schools playing rugby in Sabah. Compare that to fewer than six back in the early 2000s," said Tan. "But to go further – to develop players, send them abroad for training, and run high-level tournaments – we need more funding."
He urged more corporate sponsors to support local rugby, noting that while the Sabah Rugby Union receives RM120,000 annually from the National Sports Council, it is insufficient for sustaining two major events.
"We used to send kids to New Zealand for months to train and compete. We want to do more of that again, but we’re struggling financially," he said.
Despite fewer participating teams this year and some early weather disruptions, Tan said the tournament was a resounding success.
"We achieved what we set out to do – a high-quality tournament with strong competition and meaningful development for local players," he said. "Now, we hope to carry this momentum into the next year."
