Signed, Sealed, Delivered – But What Does the SEARF MoU Signing with East Asian Rugby Unions Mean for The Growth of the Sport?

On September 25, 2025, in a week congested with high-level World Rugby and regional rugby meetings, the SEARF (Southeast Asia Rugby Federation) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with several East Asian rugby unions in London to further cement their goals of working collaboratively to grow and develop the sport.

Feature Photo Credit – SEARF

What does it all mean? It was alluded that their mission is to do so without being burdened by the perceived slow processes of Asia Rugby and that the sub-regional focus can expedite the sharing of rugby resources, knowledge and save on costs to have more competitions. 

How Will the SEARF Partners Grow and Improve Rugby?

As emcee for the event, which was presented in front of the members of the SEARF, the signing parties, World Rugby, and a small contingent of media, Sunny Seah, Singapore Rugby Union President remarked, “This is an authentic occasion for both the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation and unions of East Asia, and we are deeply honoured to formalise our partnership with the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding

The Southeast Asia Rugby Federation was founded through the collective commitment of seven unions: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Guided by our charter, we recognise that rugby conjures a unifying force for healthy competition, community development and sporting excellence. Since our establishment, the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation has proudly carried this spirit of collaboration and regional reverence.”

He introduced the invited signatories from Hong Kong China, Guam, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and South Korea, adding, “We have all found resonance with our aims and have decided to enter into similar agreements with the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation. We are privileged to have them join us in collaboration and to continue to support these objectives and other initiatives.”

Some of the key positives were outlined as being: the geographical connections, close friendships and shared beliefs and values.

Sunny Seah added, “We are confident that the road ahead will be a very robust and impactful one. We believe that this collaboration will significantly advance rugby development, not only through the enthusiastic participation in the Southeast Asian Sevens and Union Cup tournaments, but also through a wide range of new regional programmes and initiatives. Let us be the trailblazers in our regional sports as well.

It is heartening to know that this symbolic partnership is forged on mutual respect, enthusiasm and sincerity. It underscores our shared vision to spearhead the growth of rugby across our region, within the wide continent of Asia, while creating opportunities for rugby development for athletes, coaches and communities.”

What Was Said at the SEARF MoU?

Photo Credit – SEARF – Founding Members

The first president of the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation and currently the Thai Rugby Union President, Pol. Lt. Col. Kunthon Prachuabmoh addressed the audience saying:

“We established our regional federation through the collective commitment of seven founding members. As stated in our charter preamble, the Southeast Asian Rugby Federation acknowledges and unifies the power of rugby as a tool for promotion, health, competition, community development and sporting excellence across our region. 

We are truly grateful that the East Asian Rugby Unions have expressed interest in connecting with us through this MOU. I believe that together we will develop rugby with ethos, sincerity and mutual respect at the time.

We will treasure this pivotal moment and remain dedicated to passing the rugby legacy to future generations, ensuring that all minds enjoy this wonderful sport.”

Steve Grantham, Treasurer, Guam Rugby Football Union, addressed the union’s roots and stated that their first official Test match after joining World Rugby in 1998 was against Kazakhstan, some 5,000 miles away. 

He quipped, “When we moved to Asia, that was our introduction. We’ve borrowed referees from Hong Kong, we’ve borrowed referees and coaches from Japan, and we’ve got informal relationships with the Philippines. We’re very happy to join this group as an observer, and to reinforce that this family in our near neighbourhood. So, we’re very happy to be here.”

Christopher Brooke, Chairman of Hong Kong China Rugby, added, “Hong Kong has always been a big supporter of rugby across Asia, historically, and we very much appreciate the role that we can play as part of supporting rugby across Asia. 

We see this MOU as a fundamental part of our go-forward strategy in terms of developing the game in Hong Kong, but also developing regional competitions and allowing some of our local players, who may not be involved in some of our World Cup aspirations, to participate in competitions with Southeast Asia.

And we also look forward to collaboration in areas such as match officiating, coaching and supporting the Southeast Asian region.”

Masato Tsuchida, President, Japan Rugby Football Union, commented, “Our regions are naturally connected through geographical proximity and long-standing sports collaborations. We acknowledge that the establishment of the Southeast Asian Rugby Federation in 2025 will significantly advance rugby through enthusiastic participation in the SEA Games and other regional programs.

We look forward to supporting the goals we have set for the SEA Rugby Federation. Together with the Chinese Taipei Rugby Union, Guam Rugby Football Union, Hong Kong China Rugby, Japan Rugby Football Union and South Korea Rugby Union, we are privileged to formalise this partnership with SEA and support the visions outlined in the Southeast Asian Rugby Federation charter.

I am confident that together we will contribute meaningfully to rugby goals across our neighbourhood regions. This partnership embodies our shared vision for developing rugby for current and future generations, ensuring that all may enjoy this wonderful sport. Thank you very much.

Seong Won Sara Park, Vice President, Korea Rugby Union, contributed with probably the biggest sentiment of frustration with the leadership of Asia Rugby and the positivity in this collaboration with the region.

“Rugby in Asia originally began with eight member countries joining forces and has continued to develop into a large organisation over As the organisation grows, initiatives like today’s among neighbouring countries have become an important opportunity not for division but to strengthen our unity. 

Over the past two decades, however, the Korean Rugby Union has experienced changes in leadership and policies with each new incoming president (of Asia Rugby), and that has sometimes led to a lack of continuity.

I believe that other nations have similar experiences. Through this effort, I see an excellent opportunity to pursue greater policy consistency among East Asian and Southeast Asian nations. We hope that through ongoing collaboration and exchanges, we can align our focus in key areas such as rugby development and policy selection and player selection.

Furthermore, we believe that countries with more advanced rugby programs can actively invest their resources in other neighbouring countries and support them to work on dynamic growth. As member nations grow closer geographically, we are confident that exchanges and cooperation will become more widespread. Once again, I extend my heartfelt gratitude, and I look forward to all our nations moving ahead together in leadership and policy.”

President of Chinese Taipei, Mr. Jeff Chang: “My wish after this signing is that we collaborate even closer and bring rugby to a greater height.”

What We Asked: ‘What tangible benefits are we actually going to see – what’s the end goal?”

Photo Credit – SEARF

Pol. Lt. Col. Kunthon Prachuabmoh said: “It’s going to be very beneficial to sign this MOU, because at the moment, there are many countries that are members of Asian rugby, but it’s quite slow to get support from Asia Rugby.  This is the first step of establishing this relationship, and having countries that are advanced in rugby supporting us will be quite beneficial. 

The next step is to talk about how to organise and support Asian countries in terms of coaching, physical fitness, and so on and to focus on the management and coaching which will benefit the organisations.

Christopher Brooke, Chairman of HKCR, identified the opportunity to help the region, but also their locally based players in competitions:

“I think we see this very much as a way to expand opportunities for our teams to get playing time and play competitions. At the moment, we’ve got the Asia Rugby structure, the regional structure, but I think for us, particularly, we’re looking at developing our Dragons program, the local players, and expanding the game locally.

This gives us a very tangible alternative to some of the more formal regional competitions to get more game time for our men’s and women’s teams, but also for our age groups, and to participate in some of the Asian tournaments. 

That is an immediate tangible benefit, and we hope to be able to reciprocate by helping in coaching, officiating and other things that Hong Kong China Rugby may have more expertise and resources in.”

Sunny Seah, President of the Singapore Rugby Union, added that the location makes logical sense and will save money, which is a key theme at the moment globally in the sport.

“I think the key opportunity is proximity because East Asia and Southeast Asia are really close, and to be able to compete with each other in the sub-region would save us a lot of travelling costs.”

Steve Grantham from Guam Rugby Union also identified the proximity of playing more as being crucial.

“We haven’t played a test match since COVID basically. In the last year or two, we have spoken to the Philippines, and we’ve been to the Philippines to play teams, and we have in Taipei.

“It’s an opportunity to play within a three or four-hour travel time and within a $500 airfare, instead of having to fly to India, for example, which is a three-flight $2,000 exercise. Those destinations are a challenge for us to take 30 people that far.  This is a real opportunity to get more game time at the top level, but also, as Chris said, for the high school, age-grade, and women’s teams.”

What World Rugby Said of the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation MoU

Photo Credit – SEARF – SEARF, World Rugby and East Asian rugby representatives

David Carrigy, Chief of International Relations, was kind enough to answer our question on what the governing body thought of the initiative:

“We welcome any opportunity when unions come together to work together to grow the game and assist us in developing the strategy. This organisation is complementary to the existing structures and is a gathering of unions together to support their participation in multi-sport games and to support development initiatives.

Who wouldn’t be happy with that? It’s an excellent concept. I commend all of the unions involved because their passion for wanting to grow the sport, their passion for wanting to work together, is something that we’re delighted to see at World Rugby. We wish them every success with it, and they can be assured of our support.”

So there you have it. We think it’s an excellent initiative and hopefully the tangible benefits will be realised, but time will tell. There are so many meetings this week that I believe will also help outline future moves within the region and globally, as outcomes of the General Assembly, regional, and other behind-the-scenes discussions are held on the growth, obstacles and divisions of the game.

The MoU was signed by:

• Pol. Lt. Col. Kunthon Prachuabmoh (President, Southeast Asia Rugby Federation and Thai Rugby Union)
• Jeffry Chang (President, Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union)
• Steve Grantham (Treasurer, Guam Rugby Football Union)
• Christopher Brooke (Chairman, Hong Kong China Rugby Football Union)
• Masato Tsuchida (President, Japan Rugby Football Union)
• Seong Won Sara Park (Vice President, Korea Rugby Union)

In attendance were:

• Sunny Seah – President of the Singapore Rugby Union
• Ada Milby – President of the Philippine Rugby Football Union
• Monica Araneta Tiosejo – Secretary General of the Philippine Rugby Football Union
• Fahmy Jalil, Honorary Secretary General of Malaysia Rugby Union
• Yudha Ramon, representative of the Indonesian Rugby Union
• Xouchai Panyanouvong, Board Member of the Lao Rugby Federation
• Kenneth Han,  Vice President of Brunei Rugby
• James Farndon – CEO Hong Kong China Rugby
• World Rugby – David Carrigy Chief of International Relations
• World Rugby – Claire Burrell, World Rugby’s Director of International Relations and Member Services
• World Rugby – Ridzal Saat – Rugby Partnership Manager, World Rugby (Asia)

Asian Rugby Development News

• Milestone Symbolic MoU Signing Between SEARF and Multiple Unions To Take Place Before WRWC 2025 in London.
• Southeast Asia Rugby Federation Formed.
• Guam To Join the Expanded Unions Cup from 2026.
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and JRFU Extend MoU on Scrum Project.