PETALING JAYA: Dineshwaran Krishnan had to fight to stay in the top division of the league and only victory in a relegation playoff saw him staying on at the top. But it has been a learning curve.
Dineshwaran is in his first season playing rugby with Japanese club Hino Red Dolphins.
The Tokyo-based club finished 14th in the 2018-2019 Top League and had to play in a relegation playoff, in which they beat Kintetsu Liners 21-11.
It was not a fairy-tale start for the player fondly known as “Dugro” by his teammates, but the 31-year-old was happy to challenge himself in a new environment.
Before joining Hino, he had been with Yamaha Jubilo for five years but decided not to renew his contract with the Iwata-based team.
“It is a new rugby culture here in Hino, but I am enjoying the moment. For the upcoming season, we will look to improve on our performance,” said the Kedahan, who has just completed a year of his three-year deal with the team.
“I came to Hino to challenge myself to become a better rugby player, and I’m working on it every day to become a better athlete and a role model.”
Dineshwaran was a nobody when he came to the Top League six years ago, but he has never looked back since as he learned from some of the world’s best players.
In Hino, the 1.98m lock is playing with top Japanese internationals like Toshizumi Kitagawa, Takeshi Kizu, Takuma Asahara and Tsuyoshi Murata, Tongan international Nili Latu and New Zealand international Augustine Pulu.
“When I came to Japan, I was an amateur player. It took me a year to catch up with the pro rugby style.
“After six years, I’m still learning. The game evolves continuously, so you need to keep an open mind.”
The affable player still keep tabs on our country’s rugby development and is still one of the mainstays in the national rugby union team.
But he knows there are problems in Malaysia.
“I’ll say rugby is one of the fast-growing sports in Malaysia. But at a certain level, we got stuck.
“Malaysia has so many talented rugby players, but unfortunately, our mindset is weak. My wish is to see some of the boys go beyond the country.”
For Dineshwaran, even in his advancing years, his only wish is to become a better player and person.
Dineshwaran is in his first season playing rugby with Japanese club Hino Red Dolphins.
The Tokyo-based club finished 14th in the 2018-2019 Top League and had to play in a relegation playoff, in which they beat Kintetsu Liners 21-11.
It was not a fairy-tale start for the player fondly known as “Dugro” by his teammates, but the 31-year-old was happy to challenge himself in a new environment.
Before joining Hino, he had been with Yamaha Jubilo for five years but decided not to renew his contract with the Iwata-based team.
“It is a new rugby culture here in Hino, but I am enjoying the moment. For the upcoming season, we will look to improve on our performance,” said the Kedahan, who has just completed a year of his three-year deal with the team.
“I came to Hino to challenge myself to become a better rugby player, and I’m working on it every day to become a better athlete and a role model.”
Dineshwaran was a nobody when he came to the Top League six years ago, but he has never looked back since as he learned from some of the world’s best players.
In Hino, the 1.98m lock is playing with top Japanese internationals like Toshizumi Kitagawa, Takeshi Kizu, Takuma Asahara and Tsuyoshi Murata, Tongan international Nili Latu and New Zealand international Augustine Pulu.
“When I came to Japan, I was an amateur player. It took me a year to catch up with the pro rugby style.
“After six years, I’m still learning. The game evolves continuously, so you need to keep an open mind.”
The affable player still keep tabs on our country’s rugby development and is still one of the mainstays in the national rugby union team.
But he knows there are problems in Malaysia.
“I’ll say rugby is one of the fast-growing sports in Malaysia. But at a certain level, we got stuck.
“Malaysia has so many talented rugby players, but unfortunately, our mindset is weak. My wish is to see some of the boys go beyond the country.”
For Dineshwaran, even in his advancing years, his only wish is to become a better player and person.
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