The clinic, known as “Rugby for Life”, is backed by the Rugby Football Association of Thailand (RFAT) in collaboration with famed English Rugby Union club Leicester Tigers, who sent two of their star employees to launch the initiative.
A two-day introductory class was held at Phuket Rajabhat University (PRU) on Sunday and Monday (July 14-15) overseen by Leicester Tigers duo James Wade, head of partnerships, and academy manager Dave Wilks.
During the opening ceremony on Sunday, RFAT President Pol. Lt. Col. Kulthon Prachuabmoh remarked that the clinic is a key initiative to developing the game of rugby within Thailand. As part of the partnership with Leicester Tigers local coaches would be trained and mentored to then oversee the rugby clinic on an ongoing basis.
The clinic will help develop young players from not only Phuket but southern Thailand with players that demonstrate particular skill and promise being offered the opportunity to travel to the UK to train with the Leicester Tigers academy team.
Furthermore, additional representatives from Leicester Tigers will visit the Phuket-based clinic to help oversee specific training programmes to maximise the collaboration and potental of local talent.
There were over 250 people present at Sunday’s opening ceremony at PRU, including: Chief Marshal Manat Chawanaprayoon, RFAT Vice President; Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, President of the Sports Association of Phuket; Ajarn Yongsak, President of RFAT southern region, as well as national youth team and southern region coaches.