THE increasing number of national rugby players plying their trade abroad is an encouraging sign for the sport in Malaysia.
Noor Alif Ikhmal Noor Hisham, who is the latest Malaysian to secure a move overseas, will play alongside Amin Jamaluddin at TV 1834 Pforzheim in the German top-tier next year.
The duo left for pre-season training in Germany yesterday but are expected to return briefly to Malaysia prior to the league, which begins in March.
Amin is in his second season with Pforzheim. Alif had previously featured for UiTM Lions.
Sabah-born Lawrence Petrus had in February secured a move to University of Western Australia (UWA) to play in the Rugby WA Fortescue Premier Grade League.
The former UPM Angels player has settled in quickly and was named in the competition's team of the week recently.
Malaysia Rugby honorary secretary Amrul Hazarin Hamidon is expecting more Malaysians to secure moves abroad in the future.
"After Marc Le and Dinesvaran Krishnan, it is great to see more players being picked up by foreign teams. We are proud of the boys," said Amrul.
"This shows that we are getting more attention from foreign teams, who are starting to see us as a feeder source.
"We have to give credit to our affiliates, who have done their part in developing quality players."
Marc and Dinesvaran had played professionally in the Japan Top League.
Domestic competition in Malaysia is currently limited to state-level 15s competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
MR have decided not to organise any national-level competitions until July next year at the earliest.