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This weekend’s packed Asian Sevens itinerary includes the  Bangkok International Sevens, at the Klong Chan Stadium,

The Beaumont Partnership Women’s Sevens will kick off at 12.00 on Friday 30th October and will conclude with their finals on Sunday 1 November. The eight teams competing for the Cup include top Kazakstan side, Olimp and the UAE National side, Arabian Gulf Ladies competing against half a dozen Thai sides.

These include 2008 Cup runners-up Royal Thai Air Force, Bangkok IPE, IPE Angthong, Burapha University and Beaumont Partnership sponsored sides from Yala Army and Mahasarakham University.

The Men’s Sevens on Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November will feature the Pacific Warriors from New Zealand, a select Sevens team put together by David Adamson a Kiwi rugby identity well known here in Bangkok. The side will be particularly hard to beat with three un-contracted All Black Sevens players.

Unfortunately Adamson’s application to the NZRFU to allow Lote Raikabula and Tomasi Cama to play in Bangkok was disallowed on the grounds that the players must observe the mandatory stand down period post the Air NZ Cup campaign as agreed with the Rugby Players Association. Interestingly All Blacks National Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens had already given his verbal approval but was overruled by the NZRU, bad news for Bangkok’s rugby fans.

Carlton-Grammar are returning for their fourth Bangkok Sevens campaign to defend their 2008 Cup title and their line-up includes a number of NPC players from Auckland. Rod Duncan the team’s manager is quietly confident that he has the team and the experience to win back-to-back Cup titles.

Joining them will be the Aussie indigenous side from the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Foundation but not much is known about the side this year as manager Tom Evans is keeping quiet about the team’s chances. Sydney First Grade players have apparently been included in the team.

Returning once again after finishing close runners-up in last year’s Plate final won by Linton Army is the Kazakhstan Nomads, the Country’s National side. The Nomads are one of the strongest sevens sides in Asia and are desperately keen to go one up this year.

However these teams will have to contend with the Premier Assassins, a specialist Sevens combination from London. The side has successfully competed in the New York 7s, Dubai 7s, Amsterdam 7s, and many other European Sevens events. The side could be the dark horse this year.

Also flying in for a first appearance in Bangkok is the corporate Parisian team from Air France. Managed by Bourkhao Thin, their presence will add a little French flair and colour to the tournament.

Two additional ‘first-timers’ to Bangkok, includes the Singapore Cricket Club 7s side that won the Singapore Rugby Union Club Sevens title a few months ago. The Club is keen to try out the Bangkok event and see for themselves what standards the tournament has reached before they then compete in the following week’s Singapore Sevens Tournament.

From South Africa we welcome Western Province club, Macassar RFC supported by the SA-Thai Chamber of Commerce and Baker Tilly. It’s been a long time since Bangkok hosted a South African side and Macassar are expected to do well here – a second dark horse perhaps. They will also be supported by the SA Members’ Society, Jabulani just to make them feel even more at home.

Hosts Thailand will be well represented with strong teams from the Southerners, Bangkok Goosers (formerly the British Club), the Old Bangkok Bangers Colts side, Thai Air Force and Police, Chiang Mai Suas, plus University teams from Mahasarakham, Kasetsart, Thonburi, RBAC, and Eastern Asia and first-timers, Kings College OB.