LAHORE, June 4: Rambo Lueng, an international rugby coach, will train the Pakistan team, featuring in the Asian Rugby Champions Division II to be held in Bangkok from June 9 to 15.

Lueng, who has already reached Pakistan has selected 36 players from across the country for the training camp, starting at the Defence Stadium, Lahore from Thursday.

In Division II, Pakistan will compete with India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka to move into the Division I.

Six Pakistani players, living in England are also joining the training camp.

Lueng, who had also coached Pakistan team, while speaking to the media had predicted a bright future of the game in Pakistan, provided the national rugby union introduced league competition besides constructing good infrastructure for the players. He had coached Pakistan to win the tri-nation series held in Manila where Pakistan defeated Philippines and Guam to qualify for Division II.

Lueng said the rugby players in Pakistan were real athletes and fast learners and some of them were competing the international standard.

“I would like to say that the boys I have interacted with are very eager to learn and have tremendous potential required to learn the technique of the game quickly. All they need are good grounds because rugby is a tough game which can not be played on rough fields”, the coach remarked.

Lueng was sent by International Rugby Board in cooperation with its Asian chapter to assist Pakistan in their preparation to play the Division II in Thailand. The winner of at least two matches could be elevated to Div I. Lueng is former coach of the Hong Kong team which is amongst the five top teams of Asia. Presently he is working as a rugby development officer in China.

To a question Lueng said a good talent he found at LUMS University, Police and Army.

“They are very sharp and hungry for success and real future of the country”, he added.

However, Leung was not satisfied with the fitness level and termed it at the middle level, but added it could be improved.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Rugby Union (PRU) has announced 36 probables for the training camp to select the national team for the championship.

Probables:

Imran Arshad, Abdul Qayyum, Khalid Mahmood, Wasi Ullah, Amraz Hammed (Army). Ikram Butt, Junaid Malik, Rashid Mahmood, Amra Hammed, Rehan Mansoor, Usman Malik (England). Aftab Ashraf Qureshi, Bilal Butt, Kashif Khawaja, Mohammad Ali Khan, Sahir Aslam, Tamur Zia Butt, Andre Godinho (Islamabad). Adnan Ali Sareed, Anwar Ul Haq Zafar, Fouzan Wain, Muhammad Babar, Muhammad Manan Naseem, Sair Riaz, Salman Wain (Lahore). Ahmed Mumtaz, Omar Shafqaat (LUMS University). Khalid Bhatti, Naeem Tahir (Police). Shazad Zafar, Khuram Haroon, Shakeel Ahmed, Tahir Tafi, Umer Islam, Umer Usman, Mohsin Iqbal Khan (Punjab Rugby Association).