Bangkok Sevens Youth Division – The “Rugby Challenge”
2012 "RUGBY CHALLENGE"
Posted 1st February 2012
The Bangkok Patana International School has confirmed our reservation for this year's "Rugby Challenge" as 23/24th June 2012.
URGENT NOTICE
Posted 10 November 2011
Owing to the continuing and disastrous flood factor which has not only affected greater Bangkok, but also the Provinces to the North and the North East plus the non-availability of the grounds at the Bangkok Patana School due to a scheduled international schools sports event on 10/11 December, the Youth Tournaments for U16s Boys & Girls is regrettably, cancelled.
This situation also affects other international schools in Bangkok which will in effect limit the number of playable sports fields in the area.
Youth Development - The "Rugby Challenge"
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 combined 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.
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.
A subsidiary but no less important aim is to provide opportunity and assistance in the development of personal qualities in Thailand’s youth in health, fitness, character-building and leadership which hopefully will contribute in a positive way towards improving community social strengths.
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”.
Loei fly-half in action
Kanchanapisek & Suan Pak
2010 XPotential, UK “Youth Rugby Challenge”
Bangkok Patana International School hosted the Youth "Rugby Challenge” once again for both U15 year old boys and U16 year old girls on 20/21 November 2010.
Due to a shortage of correct age players in some country schools, the Boys tournament was re-structured to a 12-a-side format - 12 teams entered including the Vientiane All Stars Boys side from Laos. The Girls Sevens tournament featured two sides from Hong Kong (Bauhinia #1 & #2) and one from Laos, the Vientiane All Stars Girls.
The Tournaments were sponsored by Xpotential, UK and Brunsworth Ltd, Bangkok.
BOYS U16
The 15th Boy’s “Rugby Challenge” featured : Watsirichanpradit Bkk, Nawaminrachachutis Bkk, Suanpakaocha-ang, Pathumpittayakom Ubol, Ao-Lukprachasan Krabi, Suravittayakarn Surin, Vientiane All Stars Laos, Kanchanpisek Surat, Princess Chulaporn Lopburi, Suvanaphumi Bkk, Loeipittayakom Loei, Princess Mother Roi-et, and Loeipittayakom Loei competed in the two-day event.
The Boys qualifying rounds were structured into two Pools of six teams with 24 matches played on Saturday and 15 on Sunday including the finals. Pools matches were 30 minutes each with the competition finals at 40 minutes each.
During the finals phase the high scores registered the previous day were not evident on the Sunday and most match-ups were very evenly contested. In the Bowl final, Suanpakoach-ang playing in their first "Challenge" scored an upset win over Kanchanpisek, 5-0 amid great cheers from the crowd.
The Plate final was also a close one and another upset win was regsitered by Nawaminrachachutis who defeated the favoured and past Cup winners Suravittayakarn from Surin, 10-5.
Lopburi contest a lineout with Watsiri
The Cup final proved to be the match of the day with the highly rated Watsirichanpradit defeating a game Princess Chulaporn Lopburi side 17-14 in a highly entertaining and hard fought, no holds barred encounter.
All these matches showed once aagin how much improvement there has been in the overall standard of rugby being played in Bangkok-based and Provincial High Schools.
Mr Dominique Ottevaere representing Sponsors, "X potential, UK" presented trophies to the winners and runners-up.
GIRLS U16
The Girl's Sevens was conducted in one day with nine teams competing for the Cup, Plate & Bowl trophies from Nawaminrachachutis Bkk, Watsirichanpradit, BKK, Bauhinia Hong Kong fielded two sides, Sports School Angthong fielded two sides, Loeipittayakom Loei, Princess Mother Roi-et, and Vientiane All Stars Girls Laos.
During the pools qualifying rounds it became clear that the 'form' sides were the girls from Hong Kong who revelled in the concept of playing on a turf pitch in lieu of under-prepared fields at home. The Vientiane All Stars and the two sides from the Sports School also showed the benefit of their preparations.
Angthong Girls 2010 Cup Runners-up
All the finals were played at terrific pace with results not clear until well into each second half. In the Bowl final Vientiane All Stars who had played six matches during the day had too much skill for Princess Mother Roi-et at the end and won 34-7.
The Plate final was a hard fought affair with Watsirichanpradit showing greater fitness over a tiring Angthong B side, running out winners 15-0.
The Cup final was also a spirited affair with the girls from both sides illustrating fantastic ball handling skills and teamwork however the Bauhinia #2 side ran out winners over Angthong A, 26-7 to complete a great weekend for the Hong Kong girls and the finish of a wonderful day's Girls Sevens.
Mrs Kate Dufall representing Sponsors, "Xpotential, UK" presented trophies to the winners and runners-up.
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 (Update) |
|
| 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 |
|
| U/16 Girls Sevens | |||
| 2009 | Cup Plate |
Pimai HS, Pimai Loeipittayakom, Loei |
|
