Malaysia 42nd Piala Agong (Kings Cup) 2026 Tournament

The Piala Agong, or King’s Cup tournament, will run from May 9 to June 28, 2026, with the participation of 9 Men’s XV teams in Malaysia – it is seen as the premier Men’s competition in the country.

Feature Photo Credit – Malaysia Rugby

The tournament has had six different winners over the past decade, and the teams are split into two pools with the final set to take place on 28th June 2026. Several clubs have also turned to overseas talent and signed players from Fiji and New Zealand to bolster their squads. Our understanding is that teams are allowed up to seven import players.

Importantly, the competition will serve as a chance for local players to impress national selectors before Malaysia is expected to debut at the Union Cup to be held in Thailand in July.

Teams Competing – Agong Cup 2026

PDRM (Malaysia Police) has won the tournament in the past three editions and is looking to make it four in a row – they also had the best player of the tournament for the past three years. If they were successful in their title defence, they would have a total of 7 championships to move ahead of Selangor Rugby as the second most successful team in tournament history. ATM have the most wins with 11, but their last title came back in 1999.

Some notable names in the tournament are PRDM Head Coach, Dinesvaran Krishnan, who has represented Malaysia in 7s and XVs and had a professional career which saw him play in Japan and the MLR. One of the players to watch is Zulkiflee Azmi, who has appeared in eight finals and won six titles since 2010 (with different clubs).

Negeri Sembilan has signed four Fijian players, winners with Malolo in the 2025 Skipper Cup in Fiji: Esala Nalobo, Vilikesa Kurubola, Semisi Lave, and Tomasi Tawake. Nalobo & Tawake have both had sessions with the Fiji 7s team previously.

The big money club and spenders are undoubtedly Johor Rugby Union – the state has been employing the services of none other than former All Black and RWC winner Sonny Bill Williams for the past 18 months. They were the runners-up in 2025 and have a formidable team and coach.

The team have adopted the name of Johor Tigers, and Johor Rugby Union president Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman told Malaysian media, “Our mission is clear: to win this year’s Agong Cup. We are not here just to take part, but to dominate and bring the trophy back to Johor.”

The Johor team’s Head Coach is 62-cap All Black Rodney So’oialo, and their marquee signing is former NZ & Samoa 7s player Tim Nanai-Williams (cousin to Sonny), who also represented Samoa in XVs, including at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. He has played Super Rugby, as well as in Japan, and in the Top 14 in France.

Other signings are the return of Fijian Koli Tamanitoakula (played in Russia, Georgia, Fiji and Sri Lanka), Blake Makiri (NZ NPC & Utah Warriors in the MLR), and Adam Brash (Counties Manukau in the NPC).

Putrajaya have signed Fijian Pita Yavi Mai Wai, who has played in the Fiji 2022 U19 Skipper Cup and the Georgia domestic Top League.

Terengganu Rugby State Association (PRNT) deputy president Che Mohd Zulkarnain Abdul Wahab said, “The pressure is the same for every team competing, even though the number of participating sides has reduced following several withdrawals. Terengganu were eliminated at the quarter-final stage last season following a 55-38 defeat to Kelantan

We are still fielding a core group of Terengganu-born players developed through our grassroots system, particularly from the SUKMA squad and the Terengganu Rugby Academy, alongside several former players who have previously represented the state. There are also Terengganu-born players currently featuring for other teams, and as stakeholders, we respect every decision made by those players.”

He added that the team comprises “16 Terengganu players, including former national captain Mohammad Nasharudin Ismail, together with four Fijian imports, make up a 35-player squad.

The 9 teams have been split into two pools.

Pool A

• Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)
• Terengganu
• Kuala Lumpur
• Kelantan

Pool B

Schedule – Piala Agong Cup 2026

• Quarterfinals – 13th June
• Semifinal – 20th June
• Final & 3rd Place – 28th June

All matches until the semifinals will be hosted at the participating teams’ home venues. The grand finale and third-place playoff will take place at the Stadium UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor.

Thanks to Tiger Sports for their coverage and reporting.

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