Rugby City Guide Asia: Yangon

Rugby was introduced fairly recently to Myanmar and the Indochine Cup held in Yangon in 2018 was the first ever rugby tournament held in the country. Read more in our Yangon rugby city guide.

City: Yangon
Country: Myanmar (formerly Burma)
Best bars and pubs to watch rugby: 50th Street Bar; Time Out Sports Bar at Yangon Novotel Max.
Local rugby teams: Yangon Dragons (contact and touch); Shwe Elephants (contact and touch); Insein Stray Dogs (touch).
Local rugby tournaments: Irrawaddy Cup
Currency in Cambodia: Myanmar Kyat (MMK)

Yangon city:

Yangon may have lost its status as Myanmar’s capital to Nay Pyi Taw about a decade ago, but it remains the country’s commercial and social hub, and as a result, remains a bustling and rapidly growing city.

Shwedagon Temple (Credit Wikipedia)

Located on the northern banks of the Yangon River, it is overlooked by the gleaming Shwedagon Pagoda, the country’s most important religious site.

Myanmar has only begun opening to the outside world in recent years, and one of the benefits of decades of isolationism means that Yangon has retained many of its charming British colonial-era buildings. Although some are being torn down, to be replaced by modern condominiums, many remain and highlights including the Secretariat, the High Court and the Post Office.

Yangon accommodation

The city has an array of accommodation options, ranging from cheap-and-cheerful guesthouses to high-end hotels and everything in between. There’s no real “touristy” area,

but those hoping to experience the city’s more charming side should stay close to downtown.

For those looking for a little extra luxury, the most popular options include The Strand, Governor’s Residence and The Savoy.

Myanmar and Yangon Rugby

Despite the fact that the British controlled the country for more than 60 years, there is a very limited history of rugby in the country. That’s not to say it was entirely non-existent.

Independent Burma’s first Foreign Minister, U Tin Tut, spent several years living in the United Kingdom, where he played scrum-half for Dulwich College and Queen’s College, Cambridge.

In the 1920s, U Tin Tut was reportedly invited to play for the British army against the Rangoon Gymkhana Club, but only after the military could not find 15 “Europeans”.

According to a book about the British Empire, U Tin Tut was acknowledged as the match’s best player but was refused use of the showers as they were reserved for Europeans.

What rugby teams are in Yangon?

Thankfully, today’s Yangon rugby aficionados are much more open-minded. The Yangon Dragons were established in 2013, and today boast a healthy mix of expatriates and local Burmese.

Other teams have been formed since, including the Shwe Elephants, made up of Japanese expatriates, and the Insein Stray Dogs, a touch team based in the north of the city.

Yangon Dragons

The Yangon Dragons are the largest rugby club in the country, hosting weekly touch and contact sessions. Touch sessions take place every Tuesday at the Yangon United Sports Club (6pm to 8pm), while contact practice is held on Saturdays at Star City.

• Men’s contact, mixed touch rugby

Shwe Elephants

The Dragon’s major rival is the Shwe Elephants, made up mainly of Japanese expats living in the country. Each month, the two teams vie for the Irrawaddy Cup (followed by the obligatory boat race).

• Men’s contact rugby and touch

Insein Stray Dogs

The newly established Insein Stray Dogs have a touch team, and regularly take part in competitions alongside the Dragons.

• Mixed touch rugby

Youth rugby in Yangon

Members of Yangon’s rugby community have in recent years established the Little Dragons programme, which introduces Myanmar children to the great game. The Little Dragons conduct weekly training sessions in rural communities on the outskirts of Yangon, with some of the kids regularly joining in touch tournaments.

• Check out their TedX talk here

Where can I watch rugby in Yangon?

The two most popular bars for rugby fans are Time Out Sports Bar at Yangon Novotel Max (home to the “Dragons Den”), and 50th Street Bar and Cafe.

Is there a rugby tournament in Yangon?

Each month, the Dragons and the Elephants compete for the Irrawaddy Cup.

How much will a drink cost me in Yangon?

At local beer stations, a beer shouldn’t cost more than MMK800 (US$0.50), while in some of the more established sports bars it will cost you around MMK2,500 (US$2).

What is the word for rugby in Myanmar (Burma)?

Rugby

– The article was written by Oliver Slow.

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