DHL Vientiane 10s Championship 2021

The DHL Vientiane 10s Championship 2021 in Laos seems to be going ahead and the tens rugby tournament will be held from 30-31 January 2021.

DHL Vientiane 10s Championship 2021

The annual social rugby tournament in SEA usually kicks off the social rugby season in the region but many of the annual tournaments have already been cancelled or postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Online the event, organised by the Laos Rugby Federation, said: “We’re excited to announce the official dates for the 2021 Vientiane 10s! In the 14th year of this tournament, we’re excited to welcome back returning teams and hope to see some new faces”.

The LRF said in their press release added: “The Lao Rugby Federation is thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the DHL Vientiane 10s, our flagship rugby competition, in Vientiane on 30-31 January 2021.

The competition will welcome a record-setting number of domestic club teams, with more than 15 teams participating from Xieng Khouang Province, Vientiane Province, and Vientiane Capital this year. The event will be organised in strict adherence with local public health regulations.”

A full list of teams that entered in 2020 can be seen here.

Which rugby teams will play?

The LRF said competition marks is in its 14th iteration in Laos and the 3rd year in which LRF is collaborating with organisers in Vietnam to host the DHL Vientiane-Hanoi 10s competition series.

The DHL Vientiane 10s competition will feature men’s and women’s teams, which will compete in under-18 and senior level divisions.

For the past three years, the DHL Vientiane 10s Championship has been paired with the Hanoi Tens as they mentioned, and the tournaments have been held on consecutive weekends attracting teams from Southeast Asia and further abroad.

There was no confirmation at the time of publishing that the Hanoi Tens (on its FB page) would go ahead in 2021 but the tournament was confirmed and will include all Vietnamese rugby teams.

• Date: 30-31 January 2021
• Venue: Chao Anouvong Stadium, Vientiane, Laos

Lao Rugby

The number of rugby clubs in Laos has risen substantially in recent years and it can host the tournament with only local teams that will compete at the DHL Vientiane 10s Championship 2021.

In December 2020 the Lao Rugby Federation held an event to celebrate the Union being accepted as World Rugby Associate Member.

Online the LRF said on December 23, 2020: “the LRF celebrated the announcement of its new Executive Board and the historic milestone of reaching full World Rugby membership status! The Lao Ministry of Education and Sport and distinguished guests, Lao Rugby community members, friends and supporters joined the event in Vientiane and virtually from around the world. Thanks to everyone celebrating with us and for helping the to LRF reach this exciting stage!”

The Union has also been an integral partner of the Pass It Back rugby development program as was the first implementing partner of the ChildFund backed initiative.

Lao League 2021 (Rugby Union)

There also appears to be a rugby tournament planned for January 17th in Laos as local clubs have been posting training photos in anticipation of the rugby tournament. The domestic Lao League competition will be played in Vientiane at Chao Anouvong Stadium.

Asian Rugby Tournaments 2021

• COVID-19 Affecting Rugby in Japan.
• Tanner De Witt Kowloon RugbyFest 2021.
• Hong Kong Sevens 2021 postponed.
• Fat Boy 10s 2021 Hong Kong.