Match Review – Malaysia Convincingly Beat the Philippines and Won SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026

The Malaysian Women’s XV put in a masterclass performance and convincingly defeated the Philippines 78-0; the margin of the win means they also won the inaugural SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026 at home.

Results aside, the tournament is a triumphant return to Test match rugby for three Asian nations, and the social spirit and camaraderie off the field were a testament to what it means to all three unions, their players and staff.

Coming into the SEA Women’s XV Championship 2026 tournament, the oft-confusing World Rugby rankings didn’t list Malaysia, while the Philippines was ranked 62nd.

Following Malaysia’s opening game 15-15 draw with Singapore, and Singapore’s 51-0 defeat of the Philippines, Malaysia were ranked above both other teams in the SEA Women’s XV Championship 2026 in 42nd, with Singapore at 48th, the Philippines dropping to 63rd.

The match permutations for the final fixture of the Championship saw Singapore on 4 log points, Malaysia on 1 point, and the Philippines on 0. Singapore had a points differential of +51, so Malaysia had to beat the Philippines and better Singapore’s points differential to claim the title (there is no bonus-point system in use at the Championship). Of course, if the Philippines had beaten the hosts, Singapore would have been crowned champions.

The Philippines squad saw wholesale positional and personnel changes, and among those changes was the inclusion of PRFU President Ada Milby, drafted in among the reserves despite having ‘retired’ from the game – where else in the world is the active Union’s President still earning Test caps!

Maslina Ahmad Ismail (wearing #18) was one of the standout players for the hosts in their first game, with big carries, lots of physicality, and was the first one to want to pick and go and ended up with two tries.  Among the Malaysian backs, there were several threats (look for the yellow scrumcaps), including the captain and flyhalf Rozliana BINTI MOHD RIDWAN, scrumhalf Euphrasia Anne Cralis, and wing 20 Kajolin Jensen in space.

Singapore’s Adaline Chew was the match referee, in charge of her first Test with the Assistant Referees: Dollayakon Phooknoy (Thailand Rugby Union) and Nur Ziyan Zahirah (Malaysia) – probably the first time three SEA match official women took charge of a Women’s Test match.

Fij 7s legend Jerry Tuwai, who is on tour in Malaysia, was in attendance.

Hosts Get off To a Flyer in the Opening Half – Malaysia vs the Philippines (SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026)

Photo Credit – Malaysia Rugby Union

Malaysia kicked off in overcast conditions, and we saw the first of many scrums in the game in the opening minutes. Although it was the Philippines who put in at the scrum, Malaysia won a scrum penalty and #12 Nur Izzah BINTI AZIZAN quickly tapped, showed a great dummy, and coasted over to score in the corner with an excellent conversion by the Malaysian flyhalf, who was outstanding in the win.

From then on, it was the visitors (wearing their second strip in red) who actually had scrum dominance in the game, but such was the ferocity of the tackles and the aggression of the Malaysians, the Philippines ball carriers struggled to make meters and inroads.

The second problem the Phillipines had was a lack of an exit strategy as they were pinned in their 22m area and couldnt escape by putting boot to the ball or carrying up the middle. That pressure mounted and left wing #11 Nur Alyia Nabila BINTI SAMSUBAHAR scored the second converted try (and the first of her hat-trick) as they led 14-0 in under ten minutes.

The ‘scrumfest’ continued in the half, but it was Malaysia who always looked more lethal with the ball in hand and moved it to the edges with the Philippines defence found wanting. 

The Philippines did win several penalties and territory in patches, but were not incisive in attack, and the hosts’ defence was up and in their face in a flash, causing players to panic and drop the ball.

A third try before the water break, which was Nur Alyia Nabila BINTI SAMSUBAHAR’s second, saw Malaysia go 19-0 up.

The spine of the Malaysian team was so strong and littered with real attacking talent – from the #8, the midfield combination, to the flyhalf and the outside backs.

Flyhalf Rozliana Ridwan finally went over for her try from a quick tap to run over unopposed, followed by tight head prop Ainin Sofia BINTI ZAKARIA AZRIN scoring under posts for a 31-0 lead with 5 minutes left in the half.

The Philippines spent a few minutes at the end of the period in Malaysian territory, but the attacks lacked depth and pace and were too easy to defend. The Malaysian centre #12 Nur Izzah BINTI AZIZAN, who had put in shots all half, smashed a Philippines player, stole the ball, won a penalty, took a quick tap and ran in from 70m for her second try to lead 38-0 at the break.

Second Half Domination – Malaysia Get the Job Done

Photo Credit – Malaysia Rugby Union

The second period never saw the Philippines give up, but they were outclassed. Malaysian players found gaps and their hands were excellent as they scored a 7th try in the first couple of minutes – Nur Alyia Nabila BINTI SAMSUBAHAR completing her hat-trick.

Tighthead prop Ainin AZRIN showed great feet to grab her second try as they reached 50-0 in the 50th minute – one point shy of taking a lead in the Championship.

The Philippines then had waves of attacks but were driven back by staunch Malaysian defence, and who else but Rozliana RIDWAN with the awareness to score from 7om out to grab her 2nd try and surpass Singapore’s points difference as they led 57-0.

#16 Najwa BINTI MOHAMAD NAZR scored after a long lull, with neither team able to get on the board, but much of it was played in the Philippines’ half. Malaysia ran in the 11th try by Umi Aida Natasya BT ABDULLAH, and had another fantastic conversion.

The 12th and final try was scored by the Player of the Match fly-half, her hat-trick of tries capped a superb game and 78-0 win.

Photo Credit – Malaysia Rugby Union

The full match can be seen here.

Points Scorers

Malaysia Tries: #12 Nur Izzah BINTI AZIZAN (x2), #11 Nur Alyia Nabila BINTI SAMSUBAHAR (x3), #10 Rozliana BINTI MOHD RIDWAN (x3), #1 Ainin Sofia BINTI ZAKARIA AZRIN (x2), #16 Najwa BINTI MOHAMAD NAZR, Umi Aida Natasya BT ABDULLAH

Malaysia Conversions: #10 Rozliana BINTI MOHD RIDWAN (x6), #15 Shania Suinani BADUK (x4)

Stay tuned for views from both teams….

Asian Women’s Rugby News

• What The Teams Said – Singapore and Philippines Reactions to SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026.
• Match Review – Singapore Dominates the Philippines in the Second SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026 Match.
• Match Review Malaysia vs Singapore – SEA Women’s XV Championship 2026 Starts With a Draw.
• SEA Women’s XV Championship 2026 – Tournament Preview.