PETALING JAYA, May 28 — Malaysia will host the inaugural Crescent Cup Rugby Championships next month with a reduced number of teams

Twelve countries — Algeria, Iran, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Tajikistan, UAE, Uganda, and Uzbekistanwere supposed to compete.

But the format was later changed and only the six keenest countries were selected; Algeria, Iran, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Uzbekistan.

Malaysia Rugby Union (MRU) general manager Mohd Mazuri Sallehudin, said: “The others didn’t actually pull out. It was due to a change of format.”

“However, when we changed the date of June 1 to 14 (original date) to June 6 to 14, Kazakhstan pulled out as they could not cope with the new date.

“Another country from our reserve pool will be invited to take its place soon.”

When asked whether MRU was struggling to find the funds to host the Cup, Mazuri said: “We did have a lack of funds when we hosted the Asian Rugby Championship (ARC) in May. Not this time around. Everything is on track.”

The Crescent Cup, a competition which sees the participation of Muslim nations, will be held in Malacca but Malaysia will be without its star players K. Dinesvaran and Wan Izzuddin Ismail.

Dinesvaran, also known as Dugro, is now back with his club in Japan, Yamaha Jubilo, after winning the ARC, while Wan Izzuddin will compete in next month’s Singapore SEA Games.

“The teams are well equipped and ready for Malacca as 50 per cent of the team is made of the same faces who competed in ARC. We are now at our peak,” Mazuri said.

Meanwhile, Mazuri confirmed the association will meet Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to discuss further funding and development of the sport.

“His (Khairy’s) representative informed the minister would meet us in a couple of weeks,” he said.

Before the ARC final, Khairy had promised to reward MRU and hold further discussions regarding the sport, if the national team won the championship.

Malaysia then sank Thailand 53-7 in the ARC Division 2 final. — By Wan Noriza Meor Idris