Crazy Fool's Newsround - now & touch tournament

now & touch tournament
March, 29th 2007 04:56 AM

Clearly this is the land of the spherically minded athlete where football is the passion of the masses and the devotee of the sports soul. But we don't have to scrummage too deep into the heart of Vietnam's two major cities to find a thriving rugby football union community hard at play in this most wondrous of sports arenas - yes rugby is alive and kicking in Vietnam and has been for some time.

It has come a long way since 1823 when William Webb Ellis was rumoured to have been bored during a football match and decided to pick up the leather clad pigs bladder and doth did he trot with it. Whether this is an historical fact that marked the beginnings of the ball in hand game is neither here nor there, the fact that some 164 years later he had the first world cup named after him is...a fact - You may have noticed he has had the tournament named after him every 4 years since too, the canny lad, culminating in the most recent and most successful ‘Down Under', which read upside down is įЈapun umop

The game has thus flourished in every corner of the globe and Asia is no exception, just look at the achievements of the Hong Kong 7's - a shortened version of the normal 15's - number of players, not height - anyway, just look at it, would you. And just as equally as the number of marauding expats moved further afield in their droves they did doth take with them (enough of the did & doth shite - get on with it) their zest for opium trading...err, playing with the oval shaped ball, which naturally came saddled with the odd cauliflower ear, err lots of opium trading, a latter repositioning of the nose and a cabbaged patch memory. Ah, the joy, and lo did it drift throughout the region like an old school fly and landed here. The numbers may not be in the thousands but rugby in Vietnam is very apparent.

Two clubs operate at the moment; the Saigon Gecko's and the Hanoi Dragons, both installing a men's contact team and women's touch teams - the Saigon Boa's and Dragons respectively.

In these, Indochine parts, as they are known in South East Asia, which consist of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, usually the men cater for a 10's game given the availability of players in the region able to travel consistently; probably due to petty excuses of work commitments and family/rugby holiday allowances...I've said it before, and I'll say again, ‘every man, dog, woman and child should be given the God given right to pursue a paid for rugby orientated existence.

However, I talk de twoddle, and I digress, for both the Gecko's and Dragon's are hearty organizations made up from hardened enthusiasts from around 15 nations of the globe, who although perhaps beyond their peak playing days and in no danger of a sudden country call up, they are nonetheless very effective teams, full of nurtured experience, some volatile banter and whispering talent. You can find the Gecko's every Saturday between 3.30 and 6p.m. cultivating their skills down at RMIT sports ground in Saigon South.

Saturday's run is not a blood thirsty encounter of bash and run but merely a recreational trot around of mixed touch, catering for the young, the old, the male, the female, the athletic and the non! - It's an open affair available for all and sundry wanting a run in the sun, and being touch rugby it is a game that anyone can pick up in 10 minutes

dirty french commie bastard

It isn't all fun in the sun though because we have a rainy season and then it's wet! Both the Gecko's and Dragons regularly attract touring sides from the Australian, N.Z. and British navy ships, not to mention clubs from all over the world. But the most prestigious trophy in the area is the Indochine Cup, competed for every year between Saigon, Hanoi, Cambodia and Laos. Within this tournament is also the ladies touch tournament represented by Vietnam's Saigon Boa's and the Hanoi (female) Dragons.

If you want to find out more about rugby in Saigon contact SRFC on saigonrugbyfootballclub@yahoo.com or visit their website on http://www.saigonrfc.org/

In the meantime see what's happening right now; in the Jon Ellwood Memorial Annual Touch Tournament - here and now in sunny, with the occasional early rain, Saigon

"At 11:05pm on 12 October 2002, a bomb hidden in a backpack ripped through Paddy's Bar in Bali, killing 202 people and injuring a further 209. Amongst the dead was Jon Ellwood, Director of Studies at The International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Member of Saigon Rugby Club, and good friend respected by all who knew him. A Briton by birth and a humanist by temperament, Jon was a dedicated teacher visiting Bali to attend a conference. In 2003 the Saigon Rugby Club renamed their Annual Corporate Touch Tournament, and in his honour present the winners with the Jon Ellwood Memorial Trophy".Despite having a keen eye on his team from the International School, we are sure that Jon gives his best wishes to all teams participating in 2007.

The Teams:

Al Fresco's

For the second year running Al Frescos have generously agreed to sponsor a team made up predominantly of students from the ABC International School (South Saigon Campus).

Alongside regular Saigon Geckos members Ian, and Ben will be Hanh, Ai, Minh, Warren, Patrick, Danny, Truc, Ria and Phung.

The team members represent six different countries in a cosmopolitan mix and our aim is to play an attractive running game, while having a fun day out!

The Ben Line Badgers

Better known in shipping, than in rugby circles, Ben Line Agencies is making their first appearance in a touch rugby competition in Vietnam. The team is made exclusively of Ben Line Agencies staff, predominantly from their office in Ho Chi Minh City, but also with a few ring-ins from other Ben Line offices in the region. For many in the team, this will be their first 'touch' experience and we are hoping to make a regular appearance in this competition from now on. The Badgers, as we are affectionately known as, could be one to spring a few surprises in the tournament, as we look to expose some new Vietnamese rugby talent.

Billabong

Billabong are a team made up from a lot of Bills and a few bongs - today should be interesting...

crazy fool's B,I& V Lions

The B, I&V Lions have been in this comp since the year 2000, which is about 22 years in the fool's book. They are a well-rounded team snuggled within an edgy age group and bumper waistlines - please don't feed the Lions anymore. On the mane they are a fearsome site with a bellowing guffaw, and now in the twilight-ness of their careers are still not paw on the hot-step when it comes to chasing the gazelle-type opposition. Nevertheless these thirsty Lions are squad of resounding and relentless non-descript talent who are determined to be kings of this singing tournament...it is singing...isn't it...

FV Hospital

"Don't expect an easy victory when you will be facing the brand new FV

Hospital Rugby Team.  They are the most caring doctors, nurses and

friends of FV Hospital, but in field play, they are like raging

ambulances sliding through opponents' defense. But they'll take care of

you afterwards with lots of attention, wine and cheers

Introducing the FV Hospital Rugby Team !"

HBP

HBP Hornets - Drawing from the greatest depth of expertise available in the Vietnam construction industry, this will be arguably the finest team ever to set foot on a rugby pitch. Coming off four weeks of intensive private training sessions we can pretty much play rugby too.

ISHCMC

The International School Ho Chi Minh City team for 2007 is ready to teach the other teams a few lessons...about touch. Some Aussie attack, Kiwi keenness , Vietnamese vitality and a bit of French and Fijian finesse will hopefully be enough to take out the title this year.

JAL - Japanese

JAL Japanese team has been playing on this tournament from 2000.

JAL is the world famous Air Line, Japan Air Line.But it's read

Johan Asshole Lover sometimes. Cheers!

Strategic Marine Muppets

We've known for a long time that the Australian Consulate-General is full of ...Muppets. This year with Strategic Marine our sponsors, our new colours of yellow and blue represent the harmony between the sun and sea.....OK, OK bollocks...it's the West Coast Eagles colours! But Perth is where Strategic Marine is from, and Ms Piggy just loves those boys in short shorts and singlets.

With arms like Kermit the Frog and the speed of Gonzo the Great the captain will be pulling the strings to uphold the tradition of past AC-G teams and unite ineptitude with chaos to prevail once more.

The Strategic Marine Muppets will not only prove to be as childish a distraction as their more famous namesakes but are sure to provide just as much entertainment.

So... its time to put on makeup, its time to dress up right, its time to meet the muppets ... on the muppet show tonight.

F.O.B's

You may think we are just another team, but wait till you see us in action - we are like no other.

Well lady's and gentleemaen; The fat lady has sungeth and news is that the;

Jon Ellwood Memorial, 9th Corporate Touch Tournament: Was a mega, mega, super, smashing, great tournament.

Strategic Marine Muppets stepped off the field at the end of the days play as Trophy winners, after pipping the FVHospital in a tumultuous final 4-1.

Both teams utilized their meagre rugby football playing resources at hand and relied upon the scant few seasoned competitors to bolster their Vietnamese and new-comers attacks and subsequently pulled off, what was indeed, a cracking final.

To me...to you...to me...

Billabong strolled casually into their first tournament then nonchalantly bowled out again with the ‘Best Sporting Team' trophy - a contest hard fought with The Fenian Orange Bastards, who only missed out on account of having a collectively slimmer waistline - although to perhaps use slim in this context would in fact be misleading.

some bill and bong

HBP project management say they relish coming into this tournament, which is just as well because for the second year running they have picked up the wooden spoon - a tall papery white hat off to you team.

Al Pacino waits

They did it in style though, losing 3-1 I think it was, against the Ben Line Badgers, who, and this must be said for both teams had some very good and enthusiastic local talent - it would be great to see them on a more regular basis.

Al Fresco's sponsors of the ABC International School student's team went into the semis for a second year running proving that fresh lungs, pure kidneys, under developed body fat and sheer lack of drinking prowess are not what it takes to win this tournament.

Whilst the longest running team, crazy fool's British, Irish & Vietnamese Lions, with a collective age, waistline and hair loss far superior to the youngsters showed them how to bow out of the semi's in style - most notably in a pathetic, quivering puddle of lard on the floor.

ISHCMC teachers were a competitive mixed force of pragmatism bonded by the gluey rule of realism, in the fact that a quarter final spot was the farthest the teachers would get without taking a holiday.

And finally, but most certainly not the least were that most staunch of dependable airlines JAL who hosted yet again the Japanese team. They also shared the high note as the longest serving tournament participants, and had with them a fine display of a hai, ya, ho, kimosabe, so, wey high - all entwined within the best possible artistry of contribution.