Nonsense. Genetics plays a minor part in relation to them developing as a rugby nation.
First of all, the average height of a Malaysian is 5 ft 5 and a half, but they could be bigger if they ate better. Every time I'm in Malaysia where I would usually eat local I'm having to order extra servings and to ask for more meat to be added into my meal. If you look at their neighbours Singapore who are taller on average, well that's because they're more developed and eat better. Food is a lot more balanced, and the portions are a lot bigger. They are also very into well being and fitness. Given the right coaching, strength and conditioning, and nutrition, Malaysians could play rugby effectively, but it won't happen because they lack the finances and interest for the sport to ever take off.
Japan's average only stands at 5 ft 7 and a half, which is not much taller, and they are doing alright in the sport. The difference is that they are a much more developed country. They also have the rugby tradition in place, and the finances to keep it growing.
Genetics is not stopping Malaysia from playing rugby. You just have to look at the Japanese.
Edit. You know it is racist when you claim certain ethnic groups can't succeed in a sport due to their genetics when that's not the reason. Genetics will affect their style of play, but it won't stop them from being able to succeed given the right tools. Japan have turned over nations of "natural rugby pedigree" despite their size.
Yours is fantastic literature, It's like saying: If all Hindus eat meat (protein), they would be excellent rugby players. Yes, but their religion doesn't allow them to eat meat, and that's something that will never change. It's like saying: If all the Arabs could drink beer, Saudi Arabia would be the world's largest consumer of beer. Yes, but their religion doesn't allow them to drink alcohol and that's something that will never change.
I once read a statistic that said the average American eats 4 times more food than the average Chinese, and that if all Chinese eat the same amount of food the average American, the resources of the earth wouldn't be enough to meet demand. Ok, but that's something that will never change, and if you change, it takes 35,000 light years to happen. The Chinese continue eating rice and Americans continue eating fast food, so Americans are better predisposed to a sport like american football, where size is very important and the Chinese are good at table tennis, where small size is critical.
We must talk about the reality of what happens. And don't say things like: "If all Chinese jumping simultaneously, the orbit of the Earth could change". First they have to agree all Chinese, something that has never happened in history (China was always a separatist country with different ideologies) and then 1.3 billion Chinese should jump at the same time, something almost impossible to happen. So we can't talk about it, because taking something like that as an example, is fancy talk.
If all Malaysians eat as much fast food as Americans, they could produce great NFL players (and also would have problems with morbid obesity and childhood obesity) but that's something that won't change from night to morning. Malaysians won't change their diet from one day to the other, then say that if all Malaysians consume more protein, they would be fantastic rugby players, that's talking nonsense because you can't change the idiosyncrasy and culture of a nation.
Japan is the perfect example what I mean. They have the same number of rugby players than Argentina, there are 125,000 Japanese rugby players and 3631 official rugby clubs, with more money and a professional league and they are still not at the same level as The Pumas. And most players of the Japan national rugby team are foreigners, while the Pumas players are 100% Argies, that's a good example of that genetics is important for the sports. We don't have great genetics, but it certainly is better than the Japanese, for sports such as rugby or american football. Each sport has specific requirements, the Japanese genetics is better for some sports than others, that's the reality.
Then you have no right to accuse me of racist for saying something like that, that's not racism
At the risk of going off topic and just for the sake of putting forward a case for Malaysia. Bryan Habana, Juan de Jongh, Gio Aplon etc. All of mixed Malaysian decent. The Cape Malay people play some bloody brilliant rugby here in the Cape where there is a passion for the game ;that's all you need,, passion.
But you're talking about one style players as Habana or Gio Aplon, rugby requires different styles of players. With players like Habana, Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon, you can make a great Sevens team but for Rugby XV, you need other styles of players like Carl Hayman, Victor Matfield or David Pocock. That's the problem with Fijians, they produce a lot of talented backs but their forwards are crap, so they will never be leaders in rugby XV as they are in Sevens.
Can we not have the "Impact of genetics/diet/native levels of athleticism on a country's international team" debate here please? Even as someone who finds it fascinating, it seems a little off-tangent here and rarely ends well...
Sorry, I have to defend myself, because I'm not racist and I'm right at the point I am saying.
