This work is originally published by Cahya Mata Sarawak. DayakDaily has been given permission to share this story on our platforms.
By Martin Yee, Kenny Ee, and Marlynda Meraw
DESPITE standing at a mere 5 feet 3 inches and weighing 65kg, Titus Chuo managed to etch his name in history as the first rugby player from Sarawak to represent Malaysia from 1959 to 1962. In a sport dominated by giants, his exceptional journey began almost by accident, as he was drafted into the national team, his skill as a rugby player becoming his saving grace.
Born in Sibu, Titus studied at Sacred Heart Secondary School before transferring to St Joseph’s School where he completed his secondary education. However, during the 1950s, rugby had yet to be introduced into the school curriculum. It was only at the Technical College in Kuala Lumpur (KL) in 1959 that he discovered the sport.
Though Titus had never played rugby before, fate intervened when his friend Thomas Ng, familiar with Titus’s athletic prowess from their school days at Sacred Heart, encouraged him to try out for a rugby position due to a shortage of players on the current rugby team.
“I was quite good in that (hooker) position with the skill I had, so I was drafted into the college team,” Titus shared.
It was a journey that began in earnest, and he quickly gained recognition for his abilities. In the 1960s, Titus proudly donned the Malaysian colours as he represented the national team, which was predominantly composed of European players during the colonial era. He played for the Selangor Blue Club and participated in significant tournaments including the King’s Cup in Thailand and matches against the British Navy and Fijian teams.
After a decade of enjoying the game, Titus returned to Kuching in 1965, at an age slightly past his prime, yet filled with memories of a dynamic sporting life.
“I mostly played in KL and continued to join the Kuching Rugby Football Club (KRFC), where I occasionally played against teams from Sibu or Miri, mostly for fun until the 1970s,” he said.
Titus’ love for rugby flourished during a time when the sport was just beginning to gain traction in Sarawak, introduced by the La Salle Brothers in the early 1960s. Titus worked for the Borneo Company and later for Harper and William Jackson, dealing with electrical appliances.
During the formative years of Sarawak rugby, expatriates like Ian Nash and Frank Burke Gafney played crucial roles in promoting the game within schools, nurturing the next generation of players.
As one of the earliest players from Sarawak, Titus witnessed many talented athletes emerge, including Anthony Besar, Peter Lim, James Janting, and Mervyn Goh. Reflecting on the evolution of the game, Titus noted that there hasn’t been much change in how rugby is played, with the basic roles being maintained, although in his opinion, schools no longer actively participate in the game.
Now in his twilight years, Titus spends his time playing golf though he still reminiscences about his rugby days with great fondness. Marked by determination and skill, Titus stands as a tribute to the spirit of Sarawak, proving that even the tiniest of titans can break barriers and leave a lasting legacy in the realm of giants. –DayakDaily
