Thailand Women’s Rugby 7s Are Aiming For the Global Stage

Lote Raikabula coached the Thailand Women’s rugby 7s side to a 5th consecutive gold medal at the SEA Games 2025 in Bangkok. The former NZ 7s player is in his second stint with the national team, but there is no rest for his side, as they prepare for the HSBC SVNS Division 3 tournament in Dubai in January to try and claim a spot on the World Rugby SVNS Series.

The Thai women achieved the gold medal win without dropping a game, and without conceding a single point, the first time this had happened in Rugby 7s at the SEA Games. This follows a season in which the team just pipped Hong Kong China to third on the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series across two legs, which secured them the one spot to qualify for HSBC SVNS Division 3.

Despite them being overwhelming favourites for the gold at home, and without ever looking like any match was in danger of being lost, the Head Coach is striving for standards that can see them succeed on the world stage.

Photo Credit – Rugby Photo Thailand – SEA Games 2025

He said of the wins on the opening day in Bangkok, “For me, it was not always comfortable. I appreciate some of the stuff we’re trying to do, and I could see some of it happening. But I felt we still had a fair bit to do in where I want us to be and to try and achieve as well. I actually felt our defence was really poor.”

For a side that conceded no points – they won opening day matches; Indonesia 0-34 Thailand, Singapore 0-36 Thailand, and Philippines 0-36 Thailand before beating Malaysia twice on the second day, it might seem a harsh assessment, but he knows Dubai will be a tougher tournament.

His team is pooled with one of the favourites, South Africa, as well as Czechia and Mexico – two teams the side have beaten in the Chalkenger Series and should be confident of getting results against from 17-18 January on Pitch 2 at The Sevens Stadium.

Only the top two women’s sides in Dubai will progress to the three legs of the HSBC SVNS Division 2 in 2026.

Photo Credit – Rugby Photo Thailand – Thai Rugby Union President, Pol. Lt. Col. Kulthan Prachuabmoh, awarding Lote Raikabula his SEA Games 2025 gold medal

The rise of Thailand Women’s 7s team has been spearheaded by the Thai Rugby Union and its President, Pol. Lt. Col. Kulthan Prachuabmoh. We asked Lote to explain to us the growth and energy that’s been put into helping grow this team.

The players mostly live together and train exhaustively weekly – it’s really a semi-pro to professional programme at this point.

“A lot of effort has gone in. A lot of effort has been put into this behind the scenes. I think our President has been a big partner and really believes in our program. So he pushes it, he looks for sponsorship, so we were able to travel overseas and get a bit of exposure with the girls. 

This year, we went to Australia. When I was here two years ago, we went to New Zealand twice. So I am really grateful. Our President has been really good, and the TRU has been very supportive. We try to play an attractive brand of rugby that people love to come and sit and watch. So we want to make it entertaining and quality, quality, quality.”

As a player himself, Lote played around the globe when he represented NZ 7s and won five IRB Sevens World Series medals, the Rugby World Cup Sevens & two Commonwealth Games gold medals!

SEA Games Rugby 7s Pressure

He said having the SEA Games Rugby 7s back was important too. The team already balances competing in the Asian Rugby 7s legs, the HSBC Series, as well as the SEA 7s in Singapore, and have previously been invited to play the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 in front of the biggest crowds they would have seen. It was at that tournament in particular that some of these legendary Thai players were in full fan mode as they got to meet some of their favourite players from Australia and New Zealand.

Lote Raikabula said hosting the Rugby 7s at SEA Games 2025 came with its own challenges. “I think the pressure is different. I said to the players, it’s very different in the Asia Rugby Sevens or the World Series tournaments, where you rock up, you play, and you leave.

Whereas with this one, the whole country is watching and seeing how many more medals they can win. So it’s like, ‘What do we bring to the table? What do you chip in to the table to help the nation accomplish the medal ranking?”

Photo Credit – Rugby Photo Thailand – SEA Games 7s gold winners

HSBC SVNS Division 3 – The Next Target

The team delivered (as did the Thailand men), and the fans were incredibly impressive across the two days at Dhupatemiya Stadium, Royal Thai Air Force Sports Complex.

But playing around the globe, playing against the best in the world, is the ultimate goal for the Thai women, so what would it mean if they were able to achieve that in Dubai, and even qualify from Division 2 to the core Series?

“It would be massive. It would be huge, I think, not only for Thai rugby, but also for other teams in the region, the likes of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, because we’ve got Japan and China already in the circuit. So when they come back, it’s a challenge for us to try and gauge that or perform and match the intensity as they’ve been playing in the World Series. 

Photo Credit – Rugby Photo Thailand – WANNAREE MEECHOK is part of the Thai Women’s 7s side and is now a 2 x SEA Games gold-medal winner. She is idolised in Thai women’s rugby.

So I think that if we make it. I think it’ll give a massive boost for those other sides, but also for us here at home. I think we want to grow the game, and we want to give opportunities to kids. 

Female sport is not really that popular here, so I think rugby can be massive in changing that, and it will give another opportunity for female kids to look into this as a career pathway. So that’s what drives a lot of this.”

Asian Rugby 7s News

• Anna Caplice – Coaching Lao Rugby & Challenging Perceptions.
• HSBC SVNS 3 Dubai 2026 Pools.
• Thailand Strikes Gold Twice in Rugby 7s at SEA Games 2025.
• HSBC SVNS Singapore 2026 Pools Confirmed.