The best rugby tournaments in Asia in February

Best Asian rugby tournaments

February is a great month to be playing and watching rugby in Asia and southeast Asia in particular. Hints of rain still circle across the SEA region but generally, the month is cooler than the months to come. Having said that, February is more limited in choices for social rugby tournaments but many national leagues kick off throughout the region. In addition, Super Rugby kicks off and brings the powerhouse tournament to Singapore and Japan for the Sunwolves home games. Here is our selection of the best rugby tournaments in Asia for February.

Super Rugby 2019

The 2019 Super Rugby tournament kicks off mid-February with the sole Asian team in the tournament, the Sunwolves, entering its 4th season in the predominantly southern hemisphere powerhouse rugby tournament. The Sunwolves will host The Sharks from South Africa in Singapore on February 16th and then The Waratahs from Australia at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Japan.

• Date: 16th and 23rd February 2019
• Country/countries: Singapore and Japan
• Venue: Singapore National Stadium and Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
• Levels: Professional

Bangkok International Rugby Tens 2019

The Bangkok International Rugby Tens is a highlight of the social rugby calendar in the region. The brainchild of Eddie Evans, an ex Canadian rugby player, who also owns rugby apparel X-treme Rugby Wear, the social tournament is massive with multiple youth age groups, Men’s and Women’s 10s contact rugby as well as mixed Touch Rugby.

The two-day event sees teams from across Asia compete, as well as touring sides from New Zealand, Australia, and Europe. Every year invitational teams such as the Jamboys (Bobby Skinstad is a regular), Nak Suu Warriors and the Singapore Barbarians feature with high-quality rugby. Former international and professional players also make marquee appearances.

• Date: 16 – 17th February 2019
• Country: Thailand
• Venue: Patana International School, Bangkok
• Type: Contacts 10s and Touch
• Levels: Social, Mens, Womens and Youth contact, and Touch rugby.

2019 Malaysia Rugby League

The Malaysian Rugby League kicks off in a jam-packed February. Teams are split into the groups Premier A and B (4 teams each). In addition, 4 teams feature in Division 1C and 1D. The league takes place over six-weeks with matches being played on Saturday and Sunday. The finals are due to take place on 24th March 2019 at Padang A, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang. (A number of regional leagues also kick off through Malaysia!)

• Date: 16 – 17 February 2019
• Country: Malaysia
• Venue/s: Premier matches will take place at the Padang A, UPM Serdang. The Division 1 matches from the pool until the semi-final will be played at the Padang Bellamy, Kem TUDM Sungai Besi.
• Type: XVs
• Level: Men’s

Philippine Rugby 2019 15s League: JML Shield

The domestic rugby season in Luzon, Philippines (the largest and most populous island) kicks off in February 2019! Youth and junior touch rugby games also take place.

Men’s rugby

The JML Premiership Shield includes eight men’s teams who compete for over 14 rounds. The teams are seeded based on the 2018 standing and split into two pools.

• Pool A: Eagles RFC, HMR Ibons, Clark Jets, Manila Carabaos.
• Pool B: Manila Nomads, Santos Knight Frank Mavericks, Albay Bulkans, Makati Chiefs.

Ladies rugby

The women’s 15s division will see 4 teams competing for the championship. The teams play a round-robin format entering the final playoffs. Ladies teams: Eagles RFC, Makati Chiefs, Santos Knight Frank Mavericks, Manila Rogues.

• Date: February 2019 (Saturdays)
• Country: Philippines
• Venue/s: Various
• Type: Contact XVs
• Levels: Men’s and Ladies

Valley Fort RFC Mini Festival 2019

Hong Kong is miles ahead of most countries in Asia in providing rugby at all levels and has a healthy rugby calendar of events. The Valley Fort RFC Mini Festival is a youth tournament that caters for the age groups under 5 to under 11 years of age the event is regarded as a highlight of the mini and youth rugby calendar.

• Date: 24th February 2019
• Country: Hong Kong
• Venue: Stanley Ho Sports Center
• Type: Contact
• Levels: Youth Under 5 – Under 11

Lanna Rugby Championship: Chiang Rai 7s

A new rugby club based in Chiang Rai, Thailand, called Lanna Rugby is hosting its first rugby tournaments called the Lanna Rugby Championship. The club is hoping to develop the game in northern Thailand and in the future have a local league.

• Date: 16th February 2019
• Country: Thailand
• Venue: TBC
• Type: Contact 7s
• Levels: Men’s

If you have a tournament in Asia in 2019 and would like to be featured on RugbyAsia247, please do email us at steve @ rugbyasia247.com