Thailand Rugby Union Targets Two Golds at SEA Games 2025 – Re-Appoint Lote Raikabula as Head Coach

Pol. Lt. Col. Kunthon Prachuapmoh, President of the Thailand Rugby Union, has said the TRU is aiming to win the men’s and womens gold medals in rugby 7s at the SEA Games 2025 to be hosted in Thailand in December.

The TRU also announced the re-appointment of former All Black 7s player and Thai Women’s Head Coach Lote Raikabula as Head Coach. He was dismissed a few seasons ago and has since been Head Coach of the Nagato Blue Angels in Japan, who are competing in the Taiyo Seimei WSS 2025 and placed third across the three legs. The Grand Final Tournament takes place in Sapporo on August 17, 2025.*

Photo Credit – TRU -mPhoto Credit – Lote Raikabula returns as TRU 7s Head Coach

According to a social media post by the Thai Rugby Union, some of the key objectives for the season are:

• The men’s team must maintain their status in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series (ARSS)
• The women’s team must rank among the top three in Asia in the ARSS.
• Target gold medals for both teams at the ‘home’ SEA Games.

There have been plans for the teams to schedule their training sessions, including domestic and international training camp schedules.

*Considering the official and unofficial reasons why he left the role, or was asked to leave, it’s very surprising to hear of his re-appointment by the TRU. Since he left, they have had as the Women’s Head Coach, South African Paul Delport, who didn’t work out, English coach Tom Biggs for a season, and Japanese coach Yohei Shinomiya for less than a season. The past season, former Thai Head Coach Tanyavit Kuasint was in charge, and he did a really good job.

Asia Rugby Sevens Emirates Series 2025 – Thailand Rugby Union

This year’s ARSS features a new format and will feature 12 national teams in both the men’s and women’s divisions, which is a change from the usual 8 in previous editions. However, there will only be two legs and not the usual three.

The TRU said of their men’s team that they were a new side and “exceeded our goal of achieving fifth place in Asia. However, this year, with more teams, most of them are on par with the Thai men’s team, so we cannot be complacent. We must survive.”

They are adamant they are the third-best womens team in Asia after Japan and China, and singled out Hong Kong China and Kazakhstan as key rivals they can not lose to.

It was also confirmed by Big Tony, as the TRU President is known, that several key Thai women’s 7s players are currently injured. Jirawan Chutrakun, who plays professionally in Japan at Nagato Blue Angels and was the Thai top try scorer in the Challenger Series, as well as Nantadchaporn Yodya, are both injured, and others are also close to returning to fitness.

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s and Women’s Sevens Series 2025 Legs

The 12 teams for the men and women are still not confirmed by Asia Rugby.

1. Hangzhou, China (20–21 September) – Hangzhou Normal University
2. Colombo, Sri Lanka (18–19 October) – Racecourse Stadium, Colombo

Photo Credit – TRU – Thai Women 7s at the announcement

SEA Games 2025 Goals – TRU

The TRU President (who is also serving as the first SEARF president) said, “After the Asia Series, both teams will focus on the SEA Games. The women’s team isn’t a concern, as we’re already ranked number one in ASEAN. But we can’t be complacent. As for the men’s team, we haven’t won a gold medal since 2007.

This year, Thailand is hosting the tournament again, so we want everyone to fight hard and win gold. I want to say that the men’s team didn’t make it into the top three at the SEA Games this year. This year, we need gold medals.”

In the latest proposed schedule for the 2025 SEA Games, the Rugby Sevens is due to be played on 14 December at the Thai Royal Air Force Sports Stadium. The competing national teams are still to be confirmed.

Singapore Women and the Thai Men won the 2025 SEA 7s held in Singapore in April, with Malaysia runner-up in both.

Photo Credit – TRU – Thai Men’s 7s players at the announement

Asian Sevens Rugby News 2025-2026

• Mie Pearls Claim Taiyo Seimei WSS 2025 Tournament Three In Hanazono.
• Nagato Blue Angels Win Taiyo Seimei WSS 2025 Tournament Two In Kitakyushu.
• Asia Rugby Emirates U20 7s Championship 2025.
• Your Guide To Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Calendar 2025.