Rugby union in Thailand
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in Thailand
is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 60th, with 16,121 registered players.
, which was founded in 1937, and affiliated to the IRFB in 1989.
Unlike most other Asian countries, Thailand does not have a history of European colonialism, and was one of the few to maintain its neutrality. Thus Thai rugby cannot be said to be a legacy of colonialism.
Some of the Thai middle class took up the sport in the 1920s, along with ex-patriates from French and English speaking countries.
The Second World War interrupted the development of the sport, but its adoption by the Thai military and police ensured its survival.
Thai rugby still has a strong ex-pat connection - one of the most famous players for Thailand is best known for being Will Carling
's brother. The Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
is one of Thailand's main ex-pat rugby clubs, fielding sides in the local Thailand Rugby Union competition, and in local and international 7's and 10's tournaments.
Thailand also has a national sevens team
. The Scottish rugby commentator, Bill McLaren
mentioned the Thais in a report on the 1989 Hong Kong Sevens
, and noted that they supplied at least one referee for the tournament, Vengsakern Paerehitya of the Royal Thai Air Force
, who gained valuable experience by working with the other internationally renowned referees at the game.
There are now at least fifty clubs in Thailand.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
is a significant sport. They are currently ranked 60th, with 16,121 registered players.
Governing body
The governing body is the Thai Rugby UnionThai Rugby Union
The Thailand Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Thailand, recognised by the International Rugby Board....
, which was founded in 1937, and affiliated to the IRFB in 1989.
History
Thai rugby goes back to the early twentieth century.Unlike most other Asian countries, Thailand does not have a history of European colonialism, and was one of the few to maintain its neutrality. Thus Thai rugby cannot be said to be a legacy of colonialism.
Some of the Thai middle class took up the sport in the 1920s, along with ex-patriates from French and English speaking countries.
The Second World War interrupted the development of the sport, but its adoption by the Thai military and police ensured its survival.
Thai rugby still has a strong ex-pat connection - one of the most famous players for Thailand is best known for being Will Carling
Will Carling
William David Charles Carling, OBE is a former Rugby union player for Harlequins, and a former captain of England from 1988 to 1996, winning 72 caps.-Early life:...
's brother. The Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
The Southerners Sports Club is an informal, non-commercial Bangkok-based club of expats and Thais. The Southerners field teams in Bangkok's local rugby, netball, touch rugby and cricket competitions, and also tour to neighbouring countries for regional-based sports tournaments.The club aims to...
is one of Thailand's main ex-pat rugby clubs, fielding sides in the local Thailand Rugby Union competition, and in local and international 7's and 10's tournaments.
Thailand also has a national sevens team
Thailand national rugby union team (sevens)
The Thailand national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side. They have competed in the Hong Kong Sevens since the 1980s.-Singer Sri Lankan Airlines Rugby 7's:-Rugby at the 1998 Asian Games:Group B matches -December 7...
. The Scottish rugby commentator, Bill McLaren
Bill McLaren
William Pollock "Bill" McLaren CBE was a Scottish rugby union commentator, teacher, journalist and one time rugby player. Until his retirement in 2002, he was known as 'the voice of rugby'...
mentioned the Thais in a report on the 1989 Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
, and noted that they supplied at least one referee for the tournament, Vengsakern Paerehitya of the Royal Thai Air Force
Royal Thai Air Force
The Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913, as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...
, who gained valuable experience by working with the other internationally renowned referees at the game.
There are now at least fifty clubs in Thailand.
International hosting
Thailand has hosted two international rugby tournaments -- at the 1998 Asian Games
- at the 2007 Southeast Asian Games