In 1967, the Combined Old Boys Rugby Association (COBRA) organised the world’s first ten-a-side rugby competition in Kuala Lumpur: the Cobra 10s. It remains one of the major stops in the X-rugby circuit along with Bangkok, Cape Town, Hong Kong, etc., even if its golden era (with HSBC sponsorship until 2012 and a 25,000-seat stadium) now seems to belong to the past. One can only hope that TotalEnergies (one of the 2025 sponsors) extends and expands its support in 2026 to allow a return to the stadium.
At this latitude, with average temperatures around 35°C and humidity close to 85%, the X laws sensibly follow common sense and limit playing time to 2 x 10 minutes to avoid having to send players (and referees) to the A&E after every match.
For the 52nd edition, held on 1–2 November, the tournament welcomed:
11 men’s open teams, including the English touring club Penguins; the Kiwis from Pakuranga (Auckland) and Hautapu (Cambridge); the Boks from NTK RFC in Cape Town; and the POMs from Papua New Guinea. A Samoan team unfortunately had to withdraw at the last minute.
5 Malaysian veteran teams — some of whom were surprisingly fast for vets.
4 women’s teams.
On the refereeing side, a group of 20 referees was assembled, mostly Malaysians, joined by representatives from England, Australia, Scotland, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and a lost Frenchman who still wonders what on earth was he doing there...
Under a tropical heat, it was a wild weekend with around sixty matches played back-to-back from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. over two days. Players gave it everything, some displaying remarkable technical skill on the field, others demonstrating an equally impressive ability to party off the field.
The "third half" at the clubhouse on Sunday evening was an unforgettable moment where each team performed its own little show on stage (songs, dances, etc.), all topped off by an impromptu haka featuring all the Māori players. It was simply BEAUTIFUL to see these men and women come together, each wearing their own club jersey, to share their roots. Nothing but respect.
Beyond the sport, the Cobra 10s offers a deep dive into the cultural diversity of Kuala Lumpur, with its markets, and its cuisine influenced by Malay, Chinese, and Indian traditions, all wrapped in genuine hospitality.
Go Cobra Go!
Photos by COBRA Rugby.