No more venom in the Cobra team these days

COBRA (Combined Old Boys Rugby Association) was formed to promote rugby, especially for young school-leavers and university graduates who could not afford to join the then only rugby club – the Royal Selangor Club.

The club was too expensive to join and so the Victoria Insti­tution Old Boys’ Association decided to form Cobra and open their club to all those interested. Since the newly formed Cobra had no grounds to train at, they trained at Univer­siti Malaya. UM’s Varsity Blues and Cobra became a common sight to behold. Close relationships developed between the two teams and Cobra often borrowed Varsity players. Cobra’s annual dinner at Kum Leng restaurant in Pudu was well patronised by all members and Uni­versiti Malaya’s rugby team was always their special guest. Cobra’s earliest tour of Perak in 1968 comprised several Varsity players. In the early 1970s Cobra had three teams. The Selangor team and national team were dominated by Cobra players. But today, Cobra can’t even raise 10 players of their own to play in their 10–a-side competition. Why is this?