It is testament to Pat and his team as the game continues to grow globally and one to look forward to for sure.
Langebaan is a town in the Western Cape province of South Africa on the eastern shore of Langebaan Lagoon. A paradise of white sand beaches and turquoise water. All the action will be over the weekend of Feb 7-8, 2026, one to mark in the calendar.
Before that, of course, will be this year’s Phuket International Rugby 11s, scheduled for the weekend of June 6-8.
Sponsored by the Amora Hotels and Resorts, numbers are constantly growing, with clubs travelling in from all parts of the world.
Making their debut this year will be the Peak Rugby Academy from Hong Kong, in what will be their first taste of tournament rugby.
Last years One Foot in the Grave Champions, The Taipei Silverbacks are returning to see if they can retain the title, in what will be a competative division. They will be hard to beat!
Fresh off winning the 2024 Manila 10s Vets Division, the Silverbacks boast standout players such as #10 Ben Hall, a former College D1 Fly Half in New Zealand; #9 Johan Koekemoer, an experienced Scrum Half in Super Rugby South Africa; and Andrew Leakey, known worldwide for his iconic “Leakey swerve.”
For those interested in rugby and enjoying a festive atmosphere, come along to the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang on any of the days. For more info visit the Phuket International Rugby 11s Facebook page.
Elsewhere, the KL Tigers are launching a Rugby Fest on Aug 30-31 this year at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More details will be shared closer to the event but for more info check out the KL Tigers Instagram page.
Tension mounts
Meanwhile, on the global stage, England won the women’s Six Nations after beating Francet 43-22 in front of 37,593 spectators. However, the corresponding fixture two years ago was played in front of 58,498 spectators. Does this perhaps suggest that the novelty of women’s rugby is wearing thin?
Next stop for England is a match against the USA at Sunderland’s stadium on Aug 2 as the Women’s World Cup gets underway.
Elsewhere, Bath and Leicester top the Gallagher premiership, reminding us of the great battles these two clubs had back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
Last season’s Top 14 finalists, Toulouse and Bordeaux top the league and look likely to repeat last season’s exploits.
In the URC, the dynamic Leinster are storming ahead of the much-improved Glasgow who had little trouble disposing of Leicester in the last round of the European Cup.
In Super Rugby from Down Under the Crusaders and the Chiefs top the league. Australian teams have featured more prominently this season. Kiwi teams are beginning to flex their muscles and New Zealand remains the place for quality rugby performance.
Enjoy your rugby.
The Global Rugby Coach, Mike Penistone, is a globally renowned professional rugby coach based in Phuket who is also an ambassador for the Asia Center Foundation, a charity for disadvantaged children. For more information visit: www.rugbycoachingconsultancy.com.