08-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
HLYM give Malaysian rugby RM200,000 shot in the arm
SUNGAI BULOH: Malaysia Rugby (MR) received sponsorship worth RM200,000 from Hong Leong Yamaha Motor (HLYM) Sdn Bhd today (July 8) in what could mark the start of a game-changing partnership for the sport here.
HLYM's contribution will be used by MR to prepare both the men's and women's national sevens squads for the Thailand Sea Games (Dec 9-20), where Malaysia will be gunning for medals in both categories.
HLYM's move to sponsor MR came as a surprise to some as the former is usually associated with motorcycle racing in Malaysia and is a household name locally in underbone racing.
Yamaha, however, have a strong history in both rugby and football in their home country Japan through the Yamaha Jubilo rugby club - now known as Shizuoka Blue Revs - as well as the Jubilo Iwata football club.
HLYM managing director, Professor Datuk Dr Jim Khor, said HLYM is looking forward to cooperating further with MR in the future.
"I think this is just the start, perhaps we can further discuss with MR on other (programmes) we can work together on for the development of rugby in Malaysia or perhaps even in motorsports," said Dr Jim during a press conference in Sungai Buloh today.
"We believe in investing in the youths of today. We hope what we are doing will inspire other companies to do the same."
When asked, Dr. Jim did not rule out the possibility of HLYM investing in a team - similar to Yamaha Jubilo - in Malaysia in the future.
"That is a good suggestion that we will consider," he said.
"Yamaha Japan have had the Jubilo football and rugby teams and even HLYM had sponsored the national age group football team here roughly 10 years ago.
"Perhaps one day we could make it a reality."
Former national player K. Dinesvaran competed for Yamaha Jubilo between 2013-2018 in the Japan Top League, which is the top-tier professional rugby league in Japan.
Dr Jim also announced that the HLYM-operated GenBlu Cafe, which serves Malaysian-Japanese fusion cuisine, will also start serving a new dish dubbed the BLUngaraya 7s Chicken.
He disclosed that 7 per cent of profits from sales of the dish will be channelled to MR.
