Jakarta Komodos Rugby Club to Sponsor Players on Trip of Lifetime

Five junior members of the Jakarta Komodos Rugby Club will be sponsored on their first overseas trips to play at the Centaurs International Mini & Youth Rugby Tournament in Singapore. In what will be one of the greatest adventures of their lives so far, the boys from the village of Kranggan in Jakarta will be provided with passports, flights, insurance, food and swanky hotel accommodation to compete in the international rugby competition in early December.

A large group of boys from Kranggan are an integral part of Jakarta Komodos Junior Rugby (JKJR) development programme, practising with the age-group teams at the club’s grounds in Jagorawi each Saturday, thanks in large part to the Komodos’ generous sponsors, including Indonesian mining services company Britmindo.

JKJR chairwoman Jess Djamhoer said that given the enthusiasm of the wider group of players and their rapidly improving rugby skills, it was decided that five boys would be selected to tour, divided among the Under 9s and Under 12s age groups. An Under 7s team is also traveling to Singapore.

Jess said Komodos Senior Team Player Chris Chipman, an executive from G4S Secure Solutions (Asia), had already stumped up a generous portion of the Rp25 million ($1,800) to cover the Kranggan Geckos, as they are affectionately known, but further funding was needed. “We are holding a BBQ at each of the upcoming Jakarta Schools Rugby Union Competition [JAKSRUC] tournaments and all money raised from this will be put toward this great cause,” she said. “Should you wish to donate to the Geckos, please contact the club directly via our new website.”

“[The Geckos] will be provided with passports, flights, insurance, food and swanky hotel accommodation to compete in the international rugby competition” - Komodos Junior Chairwoman Jess Djamhoer

The Komodos are passionate about developing rugby among marginalised groups in Indonesia and also sponsor a women’s team from the Mama Sayang Orphanage. The Komodos, who have teams of Veterans and Seniors, have age-grade teams from the Under 16s down to the Under 7s. Budding rugby players of all shapes, sizes and backgrounds are welcome to join the club. On Saturday, we play rugby.

For more tour information see here.