Social tens rugby is hugely popular across Asia and the number of tournaments seems to grow annually, while sevens is a natural pathway to national representation in Asia. Now with the post-pandemic era in full swing, we look at some of the best social 2023 rugby tournaments in Asia with the return of many club and fan favourite social Tens, Sevens and some XVs rugby events.
Feature Photo Credit: Jean-Marie Brun @ Cambodia Tens
Updated 20 November 2023
Bangkok International Rugby Tens 2023
The popular social tens rugby tournament is set to include a number of women’s, men’s, vets, and youth rugby as well as mixed touch rugby in 2023.
The tournament takes place from 24-26 Feb 2023 at the Patana School in Bangkok, with matches scheduled to take place on Saturday and Sunday only – this will be the first Bangkok 10s in a few years and tends to attract international, local and regional talent with some high calibre rugby on display come finals day.
It’s also known to bring in some former internationals, pro and semi-pro players as well as a healthy (or unhealthy) mix of social players.
- Date: 24-26 Feb 2023
- Venue: Patana School in Bangkok, Thailand
Borneo Sevens 2023
The ‘greenest sevens in the world’ will be played from March 17-19 2023 at the Eagles Rugby Club and will feature 8 women’s and 8 men’s teams. In the past (such as the 2019 edition which is the last time the tournament was held), the tournament has attracted high-calibre touring 7s teams and national 7s teams.
At the Borneo Sevens 2023, national teams from Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Thailand, Kazakstan, India, and Singapore will be attending.
- Date: 17-19 March 2023
- Venue: Eagles Rugby Club, Sandakan, Malaysia
Manila Tens 2023
The return of the popular social tens Manila tournament will also see the addition of touch rugby in 2023. Tournament registration indicates there will be Men’s Cup Elite, Men’s Open Social, Men’s Vets (Over 35) and Women’s Open contact tens rugby.
This is the biggest tens tournament in the Philippines and in the past has included a long lunch preceding the tournament with well-known former players as guests in attendance.
- Date: 25-26 March 2023
- Venue: Alabang Country Club in Metro Manila, the Philippines
HKFC Tens 2023
The popular pre-HK sevens tournament returns for the first time in more than three years in 2023. The HKFC Tens has a new title sponsor and expanded format, and for the first time – a women’s division!
The Tradition HKFC Tens 2023 already has confirmed some invitational sides including 2019 runners-up Samurai International, two-time finalists Tradition YCAC, Hong Kong Football Club, HK Scottish Exiles, Overseas Old Boys, and Shanghai Delta Blues.
The tournament also has a new partnership with global charity group Laureus and all funds from ticket sales will go to Laureus Sport for Good programme.
The quality of rugby is top-notch and many many current and former international stars tend to play.
- Date: March 29-30 2023
- Venue: Hong Kong Football Club
Pattaya Tens (Chris Kays Memorial Tournament) 2023
The Pattaya Tens 2023 – The Chris Kays Memorial tournament is annually organised by the Pattaya Panthers Rugby Club. The 10s tournament features Men’s rugby and is confirmed for 29-30 April 2023.
- Date: 29-30 April 2023
- Venue: Horseshoe Point Resort & Country Club, Pattaya, Thailand
Indochine Cup 2023
The traditional and social Inochine Cup 2023 is hosted by the Saigon Geckos this year in Ho Chi Minh City on May 20th.
- Date & Time: Saturday 20th May – 9am – 5pm
- Venue: Jungle Pitch, Binh Quoi, Binh Tanh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Four clubs from the region are set to compete:
- Saigon Geckos – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Hanoi Dragons Rugby Football Club – Hanoi, Vietnam
- Guerilla Rugby Club – Danang Vietnam
- Rahus – Phnom Penh Social Rugby Club – Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Fat Boy 10s 2023
Fat Boy 10s 2023 – This tournament was held in the Philippines for many years but during the pandemic has been held in Hong Kong twice. The event raises funds for many development programs in the Philippines and around Southeast Asia.
It was confirmed that the tens returns to the Philippines in 2023 and takes place on Saturday 27th May 2023 at the Challenger Field (within the Clark Airforce Base). *UPDATED
- Date: 27th May 2023
- Venue: Challenger Field, Clark, the Philippines
Phuket International 11s 2023
A regular attraction to regional and international sides, the Phuket social tournament runs for three days, although the Friday only sees the Vets playing.
The organisers said in December 2022, that the 2023 Phuket International Rugby Men’s Open Tournament was almost full as were the Athena Siam Coffin Dodgers O35s (Vets).
In March, they also confirmed the event will be played as an 11s tournament to trial new rules.
- Date: 9-11 June 2023
- Venue: Phuket, Thailand
Fat Boy 10s tournament 2023 – Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Pot Bellied Pigs RFC and Hong Kong Rugby Union are organising a second Fat Boy 10s tournament 2023 which will be held in Hong Kong on 9th September.
There are Ladies, Men’s and Vets tens divisions.
- Date: 9th September 2023
- Venue: Kings Park, Hong Kong
Taiwan International Rugby 10s 2023
The Taiwan International Rugby 10s 2023 will be taking place from September 9-10 2023, hosted by the Taipei International Rugby Club and Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union.
- Date: 9-10 September 2023
- Venue: Bailing Rugby Fields, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan)
Da Nang 10s International Rugby Tournament 2023
Da Nang Rugby Club will be hosting their first international tournament (and the first in De Nang, Vietnam) at the Da Nang 10s International Rugby Tournament 2023 held at Stadium District 5 (07 Duy Tân, Hải Châu.
Social tens teams from Vietnam and Cambodia are expected to join the one-day tens rugby tournament.
- Date: 23rd of September 2023
- Venue: Da Nang, Vietnam
Chiang Rai Rugby 7s Tournament 2023
The Chiang Rai Rugby 7s Tournament is scheduled for Saturday 30th September 2023 at CRICs international school in northern Thailand with Women’s Open, Men’s Open, and Youth (14 – 18 years old – Girls & Boys) divisions.
- Date: Saturday 30th September 2023
- Venue: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kuala Lumpur Highland Games 2023 Rugby
The Kuala Lumpur Highland Games (KLHG) 2023 takes place on 23rd September and will feature 70+ rugby teams playing across eight fields in Malaysia- with Boys & Girls, Women’s, Men’s, and Vets.
- Date: 23rd September 2023
- Venue: Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, Malaysia
Labuan 10’s Rugby 2023
The Labuan 10’s 2023 takes place in Malaysia, with seven different categories for teams to compete in including tens and 7s rugby.
- Date: 29th of September to 1st of October 2023
- Venue: Labuan, Malaysia
Bali 10s 2023
Bali 10s 2023 is another tens tournament that saw a return in 2022 following the pandemic, the event will take place from October 12-15 2023 and includes women, men, and vets 10s rugby (organised by the Bali Rugby Club).
- Date: 12-15 October 2023
- Venue: Bali, Indonesia
China National Tens Rugby 2023
The China national tens championship is due to be played in Guanzhou for women’s and men’s sides on 21st October 2023.
- Date: Saturday 21st October 2023
- Venue: Guanzhou, China
Shanghai Asahi Halloween Tens 2023
The Halloween-themed and timed tournament will feature women’s and men’s tens rugby on two fields at the Shanghai Citizens Sports Park – with as many as 22 social rugby teams set to be involved.
- Date: Saturday 28th October 2023
- Venue: Shanghai Citizens Sports Park, China
Cambodia Tens 2023
Cambodia Tens 2023 is an annual tournament usually held at the last weekend of October each year with men and vets and sometimes women 10s or touch but in 2023 it is being held 11-12 November to avoid clashing with the RWC 2023. *UPDATED
- Date: 11-12 November 2023
- Venue: Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Helios Bangkok International Rugby Sevens Tournament 2023
The tournament has not run for a few years due to COVID and was cancelled late in 2022 due to a clash with TRU fixtures.
The tournament is confirmed for November 11-12 2023 in Bangkok attracting local, regional, and international 7s teams.
There will also be youth tens rugby for Boys Under 16, Under 14, Under 12, Under 10 & Under 8.”
- Date: November 11-12 2023
- Venue: Bangkok, Thailand
COBRA Tens 2023
The 50th edition of the COBRA Tens is due to be held from 11-12 November 2023 although there has been very little information on the tournament there have been some updates made here. The last time the 10s was held was in 2019.
- Date: 11-12 November 2023
- Venue: Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
Vientiane 10s 2023
The Vientiane 10s & Hanoi Tens 2023 were usually held in January each year but they hosted the tournaments late in 2022 with no international teams.
The Vientiane Tens have now been confirmed for 18-19 November 2023 and are hoping to attract local, regional and international Tens rugby teams.
- Date: 18-19 November 2023
- Venue: Vientiane, Lao
Cebu 10’s International Rugby Tournament 2023
There isn’t a lot of information but the tournament (at the time of publishing) says it’s going ahead on November 18th 2023 and is open to men’s and women’s teams.
- Date: 18 November 2023
- Venue: Cebu International School, the Philippines
Surin Super Rugby 10s 2023
The Surin Super Rugby 10s will take place for the 7th edition from 18-19 November 2023, and there is a prize money of over 10,000 baht (USD $275) for the Division 1 category.
The organisers said online: “We welcome athletes from abroad. this tournament takes place during the Elephant Festival Annual event of the province and you can go to the elephant festival!”
- Date: 18-19 November 2023
- Venue: Rajamangala University of Technology Isan Central Stadium, Thailand
Chiang Mai Rugby 11’s Tournament 2023
The Chiang Mai 2023 tournament is confirmed to be an 11s event and not tens rugby, much like the Phuket event which has the same organisers.
There are Men’s & Women’s Open,as well as Men’s Vets O35’s Divisions in 2023.
- Date: 25-26 November 2023
- Venue: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ningbo 10s Rugby 2023
The Ningbo Invitational 10s rugby takes place on November 25th 2023 and will include women’s and men’s social rugby.
- Date: 25 November 2023
- Venue: University of Nottingham Ningbo, China
Guangzhou 10s Rugby 2023
The Chinese Social Tens tournament is set to include as many as 20 rugby teams from across China which include women’s and men’s sides.
- Date: 2 December 2023
- Venue: Guangzhou, China.
Krabi Tens 2023
Organised by the Southern Rugby: Thai South Rugby, the Krabi Tens tend to attract teams based in Thailand.
- Date: 9-10 December 2023
- Venue: Krabi, Thailand
Wuhan Tens 2023
The Wuhan Tens take place on December 16 2023 and are organised by the Wuhan Baiji Rugby Club. There will be women’s and men’s social tens rugby.
- Date: 16 December 2023
- Venue: Wuhan, China
Other social tens tournaments around Asia in 2023
Details for 2023 TBC* – Many other club and youth tens tournaments are held throughout the year, so it’s best to keep tabs on our socials and the rugby clubs for more information.
There are numerous more tournaments in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and across China etc.
Some of the tens tournaments worth keeping tabs on include:
Photo Credit – Pot Bellied Pigs RFC FB – fun times at the Fat Boy Tens 2021
- Kowloon Fest– It has been confirmed that the popular tens tournament will not take place before the Hong Kong Sevens in 2023 as it traditionally did so pre-pandemic. Usually, the one-day event sees dozens of teams compete as a warm-up for the crazy week in Hong Kong. The tournament hopes to be back in 2023. *UPDATED
Youth Rugby Tournaments 2023
There are also several youth-based rugby tournaments which include:
- KL Tigers International Rugby 10’s 2023 – The Malaysian youth rugby tournament is scheduled for 11 & 12 February 2023 at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian Centre. This is an invitation-only tournament.
- KL Saracens Youth Rugby Challenge 2023 – 64 youth teams were involved across seven age groups at the 2022 tournament held in June in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
KL Saracens said online “we are proud to bring about our latest rugby tournament for 2023, specially catered to the minis. See you on the 17th of June 2023!
- Centaurs International Mini & Youth Rugby Tournament – The popular Singapore youth Rugby tournament was held in November 2022 at Centaurs Sports Park. but the CIMYRT 2023 will not be happening. Access to the grounds appears to be an issue according to the statement.
- Tanglin Rugby Club – Dates for a few tournaments were announced on their calendar of events, including the Junior TRC Cup (20-21 May 2023).
Girls Rugby TRC Cup (November) 2023
The Girls Contact TRC (Tanglin Rugby Club) Cup takes place on Saturday 18 November 2023.
- Date:18 November 2023
- Venue: Tanglin Rugby Club, Singapore
If there are more local, regional or international tens rugby tournaments being hosted across Asia or featuring national Asian teams, please do get in touch!
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