Rugby Treat For Fans

   The Bangkok International Rugby Sevens tournament has grown into one of the most exciting rugby competitions in the world in the past 13 years, and almost 50 teams will be taking the field this year to play the faster, non-stop seven-a-side version of the game.

   This year's event, which will be held from October 26-28, will feature men's and women's sevens competitions at the Police Stadium and the boys under-15 "Rugby Challenge" and veterans division at the Bangkok Patana School grounds.

   Two top sides from New Zealand, Carlton-Grammar and Linton Army, will be joined by Australian sides Gordon, Darwin Dingoes, Margaret River Gropers, Lindfield and a composite side, the Thai Airways Pacific Island Sevens.  Regular regional sides from Laos, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Singapore and the tiny Pacific island of Niue (population 1,600) will also be represented at this year's Bangkok Sevens.

   A recent surprise entry has also come in from the Moscow Dynamo club, who's Old Boys have been to the Bangkok Sevens for the past few years and have now expanded their horizons to play in the men's competition.

   Hosts Thailand will be well represented with teams from at the Southerners, British Club, Thai Police, Kasetsart Alumni, Mahasarakham University, Roi-et Alumni, Bangkok Japanese, Chiang Mai Suas, RBAC and the Bangkok Bangers.

   The good news this year is the addition of property developers Raimon Land Public Company Limited as the title sponsor. Raimon Land is well known in Thailand for supporting a number of big sporting events, particularly the renowned Phuket King's Cup Regatta and other rugby events.

   The Woods Bagot Women's Sevens will be no less competitive with the Singapore Blacks, Singapore Bucks and Hong Kong joining the Southerners Women's 7's, Royal Thai Air Force, Bangkok IPE and regulars Yala IPE, a team from the troubled southern region who have been assisted to play in the Sevens for the past few years by architectural firm Woods Bagot (Thailand).

   Tournament organiser David Dufall says one of the most important aspects of the Bangkok International Rugby Sevens each year is huge efforts put in to staging the under-15 boys' Rugby Challenge, which will be played on two pitches at the Bangkok Patana School. Dufall says the future of rugby in Thailand is dependent on bringing Thai youngsters up through the ranks and the Rugby Challenge gives children from less fortunate locations upcountry the opportunity to play in a strong tournament within their own age group.

   "It's wonderful to see the future of our sport in action during the Bangkok Sevens every year," says Dufall. "Apart from Vajiravudh and King's Colleges there has long been strong junior rugby centres in Surin, Mahasarakham, Roi-et, Chiang Mai, Lopburi, Surat Thani and Krabi and these boys need every opportunity and encouragement to show their skills".

   This year's boys event will be sponsored by UK firm Xpotential Global, giving boys from Surin, Mahasarakham, Roi-et, Chiang Mai, Lopburi, Surat Thani, Ubol Ratchathani and Krabi a chance to show their skills in a top-class tournament.

   While the fast-paced seven-a-side rugby action takes place almost non-stop, spectators will be able to dine on a wide array of dishes washed down with an equally wide array of liquid refreshments, all of which will be served up by caterers DownUnder Sports Bistro and Men's Plate sponsors Pernod Ricard, whose Jamesons cocktails have proved so popular with spectators in the past.

   For more information on the annual Bangkok Sevens, go to the website at

www.bangkoksevens.com or contact David Dufall on 02 2491834 or 081 822 5932.