Expectations are building as we approach the 2018 edition of the Chris Kays Memorial Rugby Tournament, and this year promises to be the best yet. Some enormous changes will be witnessed this year as host club the Pattaya Panthers has been granted the honour of officially opening the new facilities at the new campus of the Rugby School Thailand, in Khao Mai Keao.
The eighteenth staging of the tournament will kick off at 10:00 am at the Rugby School Thailand on Saturday 5th May and wrap up on Sunday 6th May. The tournament is a variation of the usual long form of the game as the teams will comprise only 10 players per side and each game will be played over two halves of just seven minutes so there will be plenty of action. Entrance to the school is free and spectators can avail themselves of a tour of the facilities to see how modern education is conducted.
The combatants will be assembling on 4th May and attending a welcome reception at The Retox roof garden in Soi Lengkee on Friday evening and many old friendships will be revived before battle commences early on Saturday. We will be welcoming 5 overseas teams including the Hong Kong Scottish from Hong Kong, who will be joined by the Tequila Mocking Birds, these world renowned tourists are the touring arm of the Typhoons also from Hong Kong and have entered two teams, and the Hong Kong University Rainbows. There will also be a new team from Cambodia, The Shiny Rahus.
In addition, the entire expat rugby community and all the usual local suspects from Thailand will be there. Royal Thai Police will be making a welcome return as reigning champions and are determined to retain the title but their old rivals the Phuket Vagabonds are certain to make it a hotly contested tournament with the Southerners also in the mix.
There will be a total of 24 games in the initial round robin stages of the main tournament on Saturday, followed by rest and recreation, maybe a stroll along Beach Road and then early to bed with hot cocoa and biscuits on Saturday night! The knockout stages of the Chris Kays Memorial Tournament 2018 will commence at approximately 09:30 am on Sunday morning and will conclude with the Cup Final at around 17:00 to be followed by the now famous presentation ceremony around the pool at Rugby School.
Please do come and support your local heroes and have some fun and great craic at the same time, there will be lots of diversions to keep the little ones happy while the adults enjoy some great rugby and good food and cold beer. We do hope to see many of you there please drop by and say hello to us at the organiser’s tent. With the venue being in perfect condition we have no doubt that this will be a spectacular tournament.
For more information, visit website: www.pattayapanthers.com .
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