Yohei Shinomiya Announced As New Thailand Women’s Sevens Rugby Coach

Thailand Rugby Union has confirmed Yohei Shinomiya as its new Head Coach for their Women’s Sevens Rugby team following the departure of former Head Coach Tom Biggs.

The former Japanese international was/is the General Manager at the popular Japanese club Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix which won the 2023–2024 National Women’s Rugby Championship (although his profile suggests he is the owner and CEO of the club.)

The move comes as a surprise as the Japanese club had signed an agreement with Super Rugby W side Western Force in 2023 which allows for player exchanges and trial games and there has been strong speculation the club could enter the Super W XVs competition in Australia. They have also sent a team to compete in the HKFC Tens the past two years and produced a number of Japanese national team 7s and XVs players.

It’s not clear if Shinomiya will still remain on the operational side at Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix.

Thailand women’s 7s rugby have progressed well over recent years and knocked Kazakhstan from the top 4 teams in Asia to earn a spot in the Challenger Series for the past two seasons. They also finished 4th in the 2023 Asian Games and 4th in the Women’s ARSS 2023 but failed in their bid to reach the Olympics.

(The below is from translations of text posted on the TRU Facebook so we apologise if there are errors).

Photo Credit: TRU (Yohei Shinomiya on the left)

Long-standing TRU President, Pol. Lt.Col. Kulthon Prachuabmoh introduced the new Head Coach in front of the media and sponsors as well as the Thailand players. He said that he thought Thailand would have a good chance of winning the ARSS 2024 as both Japan and China could be tired from a long season as both will compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Yohei Shinomiya said that he was joining Thailand to win titles and wouldn’t be satisfied with second place, although if true, that would be a mammoth task to knock over Hong Kong China, Japan, and China who are all ahead of the Thais, currently.

On his own social media, Shinomoyia said, “A Dream come true. Today Appointed as Thailand women’s national team head coach.”

As a player, Shinomiya won a gold medal at the 2006 Asian Games and was part of the Japanese national team for 14 years. It appears as if he has also brought with him an S&C coach, Hitoshi Ipponsuki, and said that the potential of the Thai women’s team is to reach the level of the Japanese national Sakura 7s.

Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2024 (ARSS)

The 2024 Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2024 consists of three legs. The women’s teams include Japan, Hong Kong China, China, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, newly promoted UAE, and Thailand.

It is not clear yet how many teams will qualify for the Challenger Series 2025 from the ARSS 2024 as China and Japan will be on the HSBC World Sevens Series, so possibly it will be the top 3 sides excluding Japan and China who would qualify.

• ARSS 2024 Leg 1 Korea: September 7-8, Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium, Incheon
• ARSS 2024 Leg 2 China: September 21-22, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou
• ARSS 2024 Leg 3 Thailand: November 9-10, Police Tero Stadium, Bangkok

SEA Games 2024 – Rugby Sevens

Thailand is also hosting the next edition of the Southeast Asian Games in late 2025, and rugby sevens are expected to return to the regional sporting event for the first time since 2019 after being omitted from the events hosted in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Asian Sevens Rugby News

• Olympic Games Paris 2024 – Rugby Sevens Pools.
• Waisale Serevi Appointed Rugby India Sevens Head Coach.
• Alicia Lucas – 2024 Olympics Will Take Sevens Rugby To Even Greater Heights.
• Asian Rugby Sevens Teams Confirmed For 2024 Challenger Series – Other Key Takeaways from the ARSS 2023