Southerners Sports Club (Bangkok)
Encyclopedia
The Southerners Sports Club is an informal, non-commercial Bangkok-based club of expats and Thais. The Southerners field teams in Bangkok's local rugby, netball, touch rugby (men's, women's and mixed) and cricket competitions, and also tour to neighbouring countries for regional-based sports tournaments.
The club aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere in both sporting and social contexts.
Former New Zealand All Black Zinzan Brooke
, who was in Bangkok doing a TV commercial for Thai Airways, was co-opted by the fledgling Southerners team to compete in the inaugural game. Coincidentally, Taradale RFC also featured All Black Dallas Seymour
in their team list. The competition proved a success with Taradale edging out the Southerners to win the tournament.
The Southerners were later officially established on 3 November 1994 when the Club's registration was accepted by the Thai Rugby Union
and were approved to enter the British Council Cup Competition (Division 1).
In September 2005, the Ambassadors to Thailand of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom sponsored the 'Ambassadors Cup', a three-match rugby series between the Southerners Sports Club and the British Club.
The Southerners Sports Club has been sponsored by Crown Worldwide Group
since 2001.
section has become a magnet for both experienced players, as well as non-players and those with backgrounds in Gaelic
and Australian Rules Football
, rugby league
and wrestling.
Southerners compete yearly in the Thailand Rugby Union competition, as well as in local and international rugby tournaments spanning 7's, 10's and 15's formats. The Southerners recently competed in the 2008 Bangkok International 7s and 2009 Bangkok International 10's Rugby competitions.
section competes in local and international touch rugby tournaments and holds intra-club touch rugby games most weekends in Bangkok
.
The original Southerners touch team was known as the "Southern Soul Sisters".
Southerners' cricket section competes in approximately ten to twelve games in a season, played during the cooler, drier months of November-April, with the final series played around March-April.
Tour and Southerners Race Day.
Media reports
The club aims to provide a relaxed atmosphere in both sporting and social contexts.
History
In October 1994, New Zealand Rugby side Taradale RFC were looking to tour Thailand and play in a four-way rugby sevens tournament alongside teams from Thailand, Guam and Taiwan. A group of Australians and New Zealanders, on seeing they could field a sevens side, agreed to help organize the tournament, entering a Thailand team they decided to call "The Southerners".Former New Zealand All Black Zinzan Brooke
Zinzan Brooke
Zinzan Valentine Brooke is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at number eight...
, who was in Bangkok doing a TV commercial for Thai Airways, was co-opted by the fledgling Southerners team to compete in the inaugural game. Coincidentally, Taradale RFC also featured All Black Dallas Seymour
Dallas Seymour
Dallas Seymour is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and rugby sevens player. One of New Zealand rugby sevens longest serving players he played in the national team from 1992 until 2002...
in their team list. The competition proved a success with Taradale edging out the Southerners to win the tournament.
The Southerners were later officially established on 3 November 1994 when the Club's registration was accepted by the Thai Rugby Union
Thai Rugby Union
The Thailand Rugby Union is the governing body of rugby union in Thailand, recognised by the International Rugby Board....
and were approved to enter the British Council Cup Competition (Division 1).
In September 2005, the Ambassadors to Thailand of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the United Kingdom sponsored the 'Ambassadors Cup', a three-match rugby series between the Southerners Sports Club and the British Club.
The Southerners Sports Club has been sponsored by Crown Worldwide Group
Crown Worldwide Group
The Crown Worldwide Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, provides transportation, relocation services, logistics and storage services from offices in 55 countries...
since 2001.
Club milestones
- 3 November 1994 - Southerners officially established with registration by the Thai Rugby Union
- October 1995 - 140 Southerners members
- August 1996 - Southerners enter the Thai Cricket League
- March 1997 - Southerners conduct first overseas tour to Hong Kong 7's rugby tournament
- June 1997 - Southerners touch rugby section formed
- March 1998 - Club constitution is approved by members
- August 2002 - Southerners enter Bangkok Netball League
- September 2005 - Inaugural Ambassador's Cup rugby match played against the Bangkok British Club
Rugby section
The foundation team for the Southerners Sports Club, the rugbyRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
section has become a magnet for both experienced players, as well as non-players and those with backgrounds in Gaelic
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and wrestling.
Southerners compete yearly in the Thailand Rugby Union competition, as well as in local and international rugby tournaments spanning 7's, 10's and 15's formats. The Southerners recently competed in the 2008 Bangkok International 7s and 2009 Bangkok International 10's Rugby competitions.
Netball section
The Southerners netball section competes in the Bangkok Netball League, having had strong success in the League, as well as in local and international tournaments and the Thai National Championships.Touch rugby section
Sporting women's, men's and mixed teams, the Southerners touch rugbyTouch rugby
Touch rugby, Refers to games derived from rugby football in which players do not tackle in the traditional, highly physical way, but instead touch their opponents using their hands on any part of the body, clothing, or the ball....
section competes in local and international touch rugby tournaments and holds intra-club touch rugby games most weekends in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
The original Southerners touch team was known as the "Southern Soul Sisters".
Cricket section
The Southerners currently field two teams, one in each of the two Bangkok Cricket League grades, as well as a third team for ad-hoc social matches.Southerners' cricket section competes in approximately ten to twelve games in a season, played during the cooler, drier months of November-April, with the final series played around March-April.
Diversity
Membership of the Southerners has included players from Thailand, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Switzerland, the UK, USA, Australia, France, Holland, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada.Rugby
- June 2011 - Champions, Byron KelleherByron KelleherByron Terrance Kelleher is a rugby union half-back who currently plays for Stade Francais in the French Top 14 competition, and has played over 57 tests with the New Zealand All Blacks...
Charity 7's, Bangkok - October 2009 - Runners up, Angkor 10s, Cambodia
- July 2009 - Semi-finalists, Thailand Rugby Union competition
- January 2009 - Semi-finalists, Bangkok RBSC 7's
- January 2009 - Semi-finalists (undefeated), Laos international 10's tournament
- November 2008 - Semi-finalists, Thailand Rugby Union competition
- April 2008 - 2nd, Pattaya 10s tournament
- February 2007 - 2nd, Bangkok International 10s
Netball
- 2009 - Runners Up, Round 1/ Division 1, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners Black)
- 2008 - Runners Up, Southerners SE Asian Invitational Tournament, Bangkok
- 2008 - Champions, Round 2/ Division 1, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners Black)
- 2008 - Runners up, Round 2/ Division 2, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners White)
- 2007 - Runners Up, Round 1/ Division 1, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners Black)
- 2006 - Runners Up, Thailand Nationals Competition (Southerners Black)
- 2006 - Champions, Division 1, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners Black)
- 2006 - Runners up, Division 2, Bangkok Netball League (Southerners White)
Touch rugby
- 2010 - Champions, Asian Touch Tournament, Hanoi
- 2007 - Champions, Pattaya Women's Touch
- 2005 - Mixed Team Champions, Bangkok Touch League
Cricket
- October 2008 - Winners (Plate), Thailand International Cricket Sixes Tournament
- 2004 - Tied Winners (Plate), Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes. Both Southerners and Ashwell Crusaders scored 2/74 (the first ever tie at the Chiang Mai Sixes).
- 1998-1999 - Champions, Thailand Cricket League 50-over competition
Social
The Southerners are known in Bangkok expat circles as being an inclusive, relaxed and extremely social club. In addition to regular weekend gatherings and local and international sports tours, the Southerners hold organised annual events including the Southerners Ball, Khao San RoadKhaosan Road
Khaosan Road or Khao Sarn Road is a short street in central Bangkok, Thailand. It is located in the Banglamphu area of about 1 km north of the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaew....
Tour and Southerners Race Day.
Founding members
- First Rugby coach Kiwi, Peter Fox
- First Rugby captain Aussie, Paul Cummins
- First Cricket captain Aussie, David Dufall
- First Touch captain Kiwi, John Kowalczeck
- First Netball captain Kiwi, Emma Perry
Prominent current and former club members
- Rayner BlitzRayner BlitzRayner John Blitz, born at Watford, Hertfordshire on 25 March 1968, was a cricketer who played five first-class matches and one List A match for Somerset in 1986.-References:...
, Former English first-class cricketer - Damian Hoo, Former QLD Reds rugby & Australian Big Brother 2002 first evictee
- Zinzan BrookeZinzan BrookeZinzan Valentine Brooke is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer who played at number eight...
, New Zealand All Black and Captain - Chris Doherty, Former Thailand National Rugby representative
- Pete Murray, Australian singer-songwriter and former QLD rugby sevens representative
Club houses
The Southerners' first club house was located in the upstairs area of the Moonshine Bar. Due to the location of the Moonshine Bar, the Southerners changed their base to Delaney's Pub, then changed again to their current location in 'The Bat Cave' in The Londoner Brew Pub on Sukhumvit Soi 33.External links
Sports linksMedia reports
- The Bangkok Post, 'Season heading for conclusion', 23 November 2008
- The Bangkok Post, 'Vituwat shines in RBSC win', 27 October 2008
- The Bangkok Post, 'Sixes ready to roll at Harrow', 24 October 2008
- The Bangkok Post, 'New sixes tournament this weekend', 23 October 2008
- The Bangkok Post, 'Soldiers register victory over BC in inter-club meet', 29 September 2008
- CricInfo, 'Sixes of Chiang Mai', 22 November 2005
- The Nation, 'Members welcome at sports club, 31 May 2005
- The Nation, 'TRU plans clinics ahead of new season', 30 June 1998