ANNUAL REPORT 2018 's President Noteear Friends of Lao Rugby, among their ranks. Our strong domestic clubs, with a notable D2018 was a star-studded year coaching pathways have also mention for the Vientiane Lions filled with new international enabled further positive progress who succeeded in recording a records, extraordinary growth and in the World Rugby Training and double as they came away with progress across all levels of rugby Education domain, with new the Cup Trophy at the Vientiane in Laos. We were delighted to be opportunities provided to solidify International Rugby 10s and the able to showcase our growth this our platform for the growth of Bangkok International 10s. The year, hosting 11 global rugby rugby in Laos. With assistance future for rugby looks bright with superstars and 17 international from Hong Kong Rugby Union a growing number of teams at the teams across the year. Alongside and Thai Rugby Union, we we U17 level transitioning to contact holding 14 club competitions and able to accredit 2 new Coach and gaining valuable experience 71 youth competitions in Laos, Educators, 21 World Rugby against international club teams. 2018 was also an exciting year Level 1 Coaches, and 8 World for international travel for our Rugby Level 1 Referees this year. s the LRF continues to develop, players and coaches. We visited 8 Awe would like to thank our ever countries for a variety of learning t the elite level, the Lao expanding family of stakeholders, exchanges and competitions ANational Men’s and Women’s partners, and sponsors for your this year, including a busy travel teams recorded 9 international for unwavering support. Your calendar for our junior and victories and scored 37 dedication to our vision has made senior representative teams. In international tries between them the success of 2018 possible. taking to the field in new and in a successful year on the pitch. Join us in reflecting on what has returning competitions around The Lao Women’s National Team been another successful year the region, we are delighted to recorded a record finish in Brunei for the Lao Rugby Federation continue to develop young talent in the 2018 Asia Rugby 7s Trophy, and in looking forward to future and build strong role models coming in as Plate Runners Up achievements as we continue to across the LRF’s elite programme. after winning four matches out strive to provide access to rugby of six (including producing some opportunities to all in the Lao PDR. e are also proud to have major tournament upsets). Their Wextended our rugby footprint U18 counterparts - the Lao U18 further across Laos this year, with Women’s National 7s Team - also Sincerely Yours, our Champa Ban Youth Rugby produced some stunning displays program expanding into 7 districts. to come away with the Bowl 139 active Champa Ban Coaches Trophy at the Asia Rugby U18 7s. continued to provide opportunities Mr. Virayouth Rathikoun for children and youth to learn hese performances followed LRF President and grow with us, with 41 teachers Tstrong showings from our OUR VISION AND MISSION ANNUAL REPORT 2018 LRF ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ACTIVITIES MISSION ENGAGEMENT VISION LRF activities are focused on The mission of the LRF is to provide This mission will be achieved by ensuring The LRF is the governing body for all developing rugby through school and opportunities for men and women, boys that the LRF has the necessary capacity Rugby activities within the Lao PDR. community development initiatives, and girls, social and elite players, and those to deliver high quality playing and It works to realise the vision of a Lao supporting domestic and elite teams, in urban and rural areas to participate in participation opportunities to residents PDR in which all people have the and establishing a foundation that the sport of Rugby, whilst ensuring that across Laos, which we are hopeful opportunity to participate in the sport provides transparent and accountable health and personal development are will increase the National Olympic of Rugby. financial and administrative support realised to their fullest extent. Committee and Ministry of Education to every team, new and old, in the and Sport support, while also; engaging country of Laos. with communities, businesses, schools, institutions and other partners to provide sustainable access to playing and non- playing participants. STU OUR BOARD AND GOVERNANCE EXECUTIVE BOARD NOT PICTURED: STEVE MAJOR Virayouth Rathikounv Somsanouk Mixay dr. bouthavy sisouphanthong Phannavanh Boutthavong WHERE WE WORK soukita Hueanphengohn xouchai panyanouvong Phousay phengphone vinay inthavong IN LAO PDR MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION ○XIENG KHOUANG NATIONAL SPORT FEDERATION ○VIENTIANE ○CHAMPASSAK he LRF sits under the Elite Sports Full Member of Asia Rugby: The LRF Associate Member of World Rugby: TDepartment of the Lao Ministry of has been a full member of Asia Rugby The LRF has been an associate Education and Sport where more than since 2004 and remains active in member of World Rugby since 2004 41 sports are registered as National the regional body with seats on Asia and is one of 120 associate and full Sport Federations. The LRF’s Executive Rugby’s Development Committee, member unions globally. The LRF Board is approved by the Ministry Women’s Committee, and Medical is working to gain full membership and all rugby activities are governed Committee. The LRF has been by 2020 as part of the LRF’s current according to the LRF’s constitution. consistently praised as a ‘model strategic plan. developing union’ by Asia Rugby following union reviews annually. OUR AREAS OF WORK ELITE RUGBY CLUB RUGBY CHAMPA BAN LEADERSHIP YOUTH RUGBY DEVELOPMENT he LRF’s work is divided Youth Rugby activities aim to any young people developing a sound structure into four areas as shown offer quality sport programming graduate from Champa to provide transparent financial There. The base of the LRF’s for children and youth that MBan Youth Rugby to join and administrative support to work is in developing the sport help young people to develop club rugby teams and from tehre the sport. This area of work through school and community their rugby skills while also some are also selected for the supports staff members and development initiatives in our learning about rugby’s values Lao Naitonal teams and other Coaches to learn how to lead Champa Ban Youth Rugby including passion, solidarity, representative teams under the rugby activities in a safe and program. Champa Ban means discipline, integrity and respect. LRF’s elite rugby programming. accountable way. ‘blossoming flower’ in Lao Our Leadership Development language and Champa Ban work aims to improve and ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN 2018 he LRF achieved exciting n 2018 the LRF also hosted their rugby coaching skills. A final Taccomplishments in 2018 I11 international superstars remarkable achievement the LRF including expanding into new including Charlotte Caslick who celebrated in 2018 was Ms. Lao districts, hosting 71 competitions traveled to Laos to support with Khang, the LRF’s Xieng Khouang and over 2,000 rugby and life skills coaching and inspiring the LRF’s Rugby Development Coordinator sessions. In our club rugby work, blossoming Champa Ban Youth being named one of BBC’s 100 the LRF welcomed a new club and Rugby scene. 2018 also saw 2 Women of 2018. Lao Khang hosted 14 competitions including new Lao World Rugby Coach became the first Lao recipient of the first U14 club competition. In Educators certified so World the award recognising her years our elite rugby programming, we Rugby Level 1 Coaching Courses of work to grow the sport of rugby earned 9 international victories can now be run in Lao and in Xieng Khouang, especially for including big wins over Brunei, Hmong languages for up and female players and coaches in Nepal, Guam and Indonesia. coming leaders interested to build rural areas. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CHAMPA BAN 54% Youth Rugby Highlights 46% In our Champa Ban Youth The U14 Champa Ban Rugby work, the LRF expanded Championship was a historic to 7 new districts in Laos, event that saw a record hosted 71 competitions and number of youth 7s teams delivered 2278 rugby and life come together in contact skills sessions. During 2018, competition for the first time. 3,688 youth players were The competition including 8 actively involved in Champa participating Lao teams and 2 Ban powered by ChildFund visiting teams for a total of 10 Pass It Back youth rugby teams split evenly across male programming with more than and female divisions. MALES FEMALES 50% of players and Coaches being female. 2005 1683 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 CLUB RUGBY Senior Domestic Rugby Highlights 24 Senior Men’s and Women’s The DAC Weredragons won Club Teams from across Asia, the Men’s Cup Trophy with the Australia, and the United States Vientiane Lions winning the traveled to Vientiane for the Women’s Cup Trophy. 2018 Vientiane International Rugby Championship. The Vientiane Lions completed the double, travelling to Bangkok for the 2018 Bangkok International 10s and defending the Cup Trophy. LRF The Colours League ANNUAL tournament expanded into Xieng Khouang for the first REPORT time and Xieng Khouang Rugby Football Club were welcomed as a full member of 2018 the LRF. ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT 2018 ELITE RUGBY Highlights from the Lao Representative Teams The DAC Lao U18 Nagas Men’s in as Plate Runners Up after teams participated in the Bangkok winning four matches out of International Rugby 7s from 10-11 six (including producing some November and recorded a 3rd place major tournament upsets). finish. The DAC Lao U18 Women’s The DAC Lao Nagas Women’s National 7s Team - under the guidance team finished as Runners Up in the of World Rugby Level 2 Coaches, Singapore Life Girls Rugby TRC Cup.