Since Indonesian Rugby was established in May 2004, there has been some immovable persons who have helped the game to grow and to flourish here in Indonesia, none more so than Daniel Nugroho who as a budding 15 year old was one of the first kids to turn up at regular Wednesday night Indonesian Development Rugby or IDR Sessions that we used host at ‘Lampungan B’ within the Senayan Sports Complex in central Jakarta. Since that time Daniel has gone on to represent Indonesia 11 times and this week he will Captain his country for the first time in the 2012 HSBC A5N Division 3 Tournament in KL.

Daniel was a popular choice as Captain of the 2012 Indonesian National Team or Rhinos as they are known, given the contribution he not only makes to the National Team as a flanker, but to Rugby in general in Indonesia where he has served as a player, a player-coach, a coach and an administrator. Not bad for a lad who is still only 23 years old.

On the field this week, Daniel will be assisted by Kirk Arundale as his Vice Captain plus also several other senior members of the Rhinos leadership group. Kirk has played in all of Indonesia’s 14 Tests played to date.

I have had the fortune of watching Daniel develop not only as a Rugby player but also as a young man worthy of leading his nation on the field as its National Rugby Captain and I look forward to Daniel leading his team well in this Wednesday’s Test against Guam at Stadium Petaling Jaya in Kuala Lumpur.