Bangkok Sevens Youth Division – The “Rugby Challenges”

15 January 2010

Youth Development – Rugby Challenges

Rugby for juniors was introduced as a division of the Bangkok Sevens in 1996 initially under “Walla Rugby” rules for U13 years boys and girls playing 12-a-side rugby. This measure was seen to be an important developmental step to raise the profile of rugby in Thailand and to introduce young high school students to rugby in a friendly but competitive environment.

Bangkok 7s 2009 Under Fifteen’s Cup Finalists: Bangkok Pattana & Roi-Et

Bangkok 7s 2009 Under Fifteen’s Bowl Finalists: Ao-Luk & Nawamin

Nawamin stop a Surin charge for the line 

In 1998 the competition was upgraded to an U14, 12-a-side, boys only tournament to take into account the growing number of boys playing rugby at a point when girls/women’s rugby was still in its infancy in Thailand. The following years saw an upsurge in Thai high schools in up-Country Provinces taking on rugby as an alternative to soccer and other sports.

In accordance with Thai Rugby Union development concepts put forward in 2004 & 2005, the Boys “Rugby Challenge” was up-graded to an U15 years tournament in 15-a-side full tackle format as a transition into Regional level U17s and U19s and since the tournament has been represented by teams from 10-16 Provinces across Thailand, the Event can readily be regarded as a “National Championships”.

An U19 yrs Girls Rugby Challenge was added in 2009 playing 7-a-side format.

The dual age-based tournaments were held to conform with the Thai Rugby Union’s long-term goals to compete in the Asian Rugby Union string of sevens and fifteen-a-side events which will hopefully lead to entries in Rugby World Cups for Men & Women and eventually, the Olympics in 2016.

2009 XPotential, UK “Youth Rugby Challenges”

BOYS U15

Bangkok Patana International School hosted the “Youth Rugby Challenge” once again for both U15 year old boys and for the first time, U19 year old women.

In the 13^th Boy’s “Rugby Challenge”, nine teams from Bangkok Patana School, and Watsirichanpradit in Bangkok, Nawaminrachachutis Samutprakarn, Chalermprakiat Roi-et, Pathumpittayakom Ubol, Ao-Lukprachasan Krabi, Chulaporn Rajavitt Lopburi, Suravittayakarn Surin, and Loeipittayakom Loei competed in the two-day event.

In the Bowl Final, Ao-Luk Krabi beat Nawaminrachachutis 7-0 in a tight and hard fought match; Watsirichanpradit showed a lot of class in winning the Plate final over Surin’s Suravittayakarn 17-3 and in the Cup final after a spirited and tough encounter Bangkok Patana School beat a game Chalermprakiat Roi-et team 15-3.

Mr Dominique Ottevaere representing Sponsors, "X potential, UK" presented the trophies to the winners.

GIRLS U19

Bangkok 7s 2009 Under Nineteen’s Plate Winners: Loei

The Girl's Sevens was conducted in one day with seven teams competing for the Cup and Plate trophies from Chalermprakiat Roi-et, Watsirichanpradit, Bangkok each fielding two sides, Loeipittayakom and Pimai from the northeast and Princess Chulaporn, Lopburi.

Following a number of exciting Pools and semi-finals matches, Loeipittayakom over-ran a tiring Roi-et Team B, 24-0 to take out the Plate Event while in a close and thrilling encounter in the Cup final, Pimai played a very disciplined game to beat their rivals Princess Chulaporn Lopburi, 19-5.  Trophies were presented by Kate Dufall from the British Embassy.

Previous successes

‘Walla’ Rugby for U/13 boys & girls
1996	Cup	Ongarak, Nakorn Nayok
1997	Cup Plate	Suravittayakarn, Surin Donthong, Phitsanulok
U/14 Boys 12-a-side
1998	Cup Plate	Suravittayakarn, Surin Kanarasbamrung, Yala
1999	Cup Plate	Prince Royal, Chiang Mai Chulaporn, Cholburi
2000	Cup Plate	Chalermbrakiat, Roi-et Sports School, Angthong
2001	Cup Plate	Chalermprakiat, Roi-et Suravittayakarn, Surin
2002	Cup Plate	Suravittayakarn, Surin Pratumpittaykarn, Ubol
2003	Cup Plate	Suravittayakarn, Surin Pratumpittaykarn, Ubol
2004		Not contested
U/15 Boys 15-a-side
2005	Cup Plate Bowl	Vajiravudh College, Bkk Loeipittayakom, Loei Kanchanadit, Surat Thani
2006	Cup Plate Bowl	Vajiravudh College, Bkk no records available no records available
2007	Cup Plate Bowl	Vajiravudh College, Bkk Pattana Pracha-upatham, Phrae Ao-luk, Krabi
2008	Cup Plate Bowl	Chalermprakiat Lopburi Chalermprakiat Roi-et Patana Pracha-Upatham Phrae
2009	Cup Plate Bowl	Bangkok Patana School Watsirichanpradit Ao-luk, Krabi