2011 Phuket International Heineken Rugby 10s Report

2011 Phuket International Heineken 10's report

2011 Champions - Royal Thai Police

In the sweltering heat of the upcoming 

monsoon season Karon Stadium bore witness to some of the best rugby ever played at the Phuket Heineken Rugby 10's. As usual the proceedings kicked off on the Friday with the coffin dodgers vets competition with defending champions the Moorabbin Rams looking to retain their trophy against the likes of the Cottesloe Old Gulls, Arabian Gulf Legends, Bucks stags, Wanderers Wrinkleys and of course home town favorites the Phuket Viagrabonds. The Selangor Old Dog once again graced the field along with new boys the Taipei Silverbacks & old favorites The Hong Kong Bulls & the Stray Cats.

2011 Coffin Dodgers Champions - Morrabbin Rams

 During the group stages there were many close games but the pick of the early games was the Weasel cup match up between the Viagrabonds and old adversaries the old Bangkok Bangers. In a tough encounter Viagrabonds ably led by ex bath Hooker Huw Butler managed to sneak home by 19-0 & regain the converted trophy. After winning all their group games Viagrabonds came up against the Cottesloe Old gulls in the semi final and put in their best performance of the day to run out winners & earn a place in the Vets cup final against defending champions Moorabbin Rams. Other teams to make it through to the finals were the vets bowl Arabian Gulf Legends V Selangor Old Dog & Vets plate Bucks Stags V Wanderers Wrinkleys.

2011 Coffin Dodgers Plate Winners - Bucks Stags

The main action started on Saturday morning with new comers Rebel Dubai Dragons taking on the Royal Thai Police who immediately showed that they would be contenders for the crown. In a day of action packed rugby one figure who stood out was the Emirate airlines muppets ex Wasps & Samoan international Trevor Leota who defied the years by playing for any team who would have him !!

A Legend - Trevor Leota

Some of the matches were close run affairs with Qantas Koalas taking the inter airline clash bragging rights by defeating the Emirate Airlines Flying Muppets 7-0, BKK Bangers beating Bucket Brigade 7-0 and Phuket Vagabonds going down in a close game to the Taipei baboons 12-7. The Vagabonds did however bounce back in their next game to beat the Bucket brigade to reach the cup stages on Sunday. One of the favorites for the cup the Thai Legends were pushed all the way by the Bedhoff Kings from Singapore before scoring the winning try in the last minute to win 7-0. One of the biggest upsets of the day was the Asian Japanese Dragons almost beating last years champions the Kreil Roosters from South Africa & only a last minute try by Vicci Muy saw them through 12-7.

The knockout stages on Sunday were all close games and as always there has to be winners and losers & the finals were finally sorted out with The Emirate Flying Muppets taking on the Singapore barbarians who won a tight game to win the Bowl competitions. The Thai legends edged last years finalists the Moorabbin Rams in what was probably the most entertaining game of the weekend to take the plate honours & the Royal Thai Police beat last years winners the Kreil Roosters in a thoroughly entertaining game of attrition and spectacular rugby.

2011 Coffin Dodgers Bowl Winners - Gulf Leg'Ends

Before the main finals we had the future of rugby on display with the Under 15's tournament finals with Singapore Centaurs  taking on the Phuket Lomas in the cup final. In a thrilling game cheered on by the crowd the Centaurs ran out winners by 10-0 after scoring in the 1st & last minutes of the game.
In the Plate final Krabi overcame a spirited BKK Lions team 12-0. Lomas captain Mut was voted by the other coaches as U 15's player of the tournament. From the future of the sport to the veterans of the sport we had the Coffin Dodgers finals with the Arabian Gulf Legends just over coming a spirited Selangor Old Dog side to win the Bowl honours and The Bucks Stags just scraping by the Wanderers Wrinkleys in a Singapore derby to steal the Plate and local hero's the Phuket Viagrabonds being out classed by reigning Coffin Dodgers champions the Moorabbin Rams who retained their Coffin Dodgers cup.

Player of the Tournament-

Vets Bowl Winners Arabian Gulf Legends - Runners-up Selangor Old Dogs
Vets Plate Winners Bucks Stags - Runners-ups Wanderers Wrinklies
Vets Cup Winners Morrabins Rams - Runners-up Phuket Viagrabonds
Senior Bowl Winners Singapore Barbarians - Runners-up Emirates Flying Muppets
Senior Plate Winners Thai Legends - Runners-up Morrabins Rams
Senior Cup Winners Royal Thai Police - Runners-up Kriel Roosters
Player of the tournament Somsak Mitluk Royal Thai Police
Vets Player of the tournament - Arvind David Moorabbin Rams
U 15's Player of the tournament - Mut- Phuket Lomas

2011 Weasel Cup Winners

A big thank you to Matt Oakley and his team of referees who did a great job over the weekend & also to our sponsors Heineken, Athena Siam Ltd, Phuket International Hospital, Kata Group, Aussie Bar, Kangaroo Bar, Factory Bar, Sawadee Dental Clinic, Shires Pies & Khuk Khak design. Jon Pritchard our entertaining MC & Rob "Daisey" Brewer special MC of the Tour Virgin Party & official photographer. A special mention to Simone & Sven from Seabees Diving who helped raise over 17k baht for their 2 laps of the pitch in full diving gear !! The Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club for hosting the youth U 15's tournament a great venue & big thanks.
As you know this weekend wasn't just about rugby it was also about giving kids hope for the future. We raised a magnificent 500++k Baht for the Asia Center Foundation Scholarship fund + the 410k donation from the BKK Bangers bike riders.

2011 Plate Winners - Thai Legends