PHNOM PENH (Oct 6) : Women's international rugby makes its debut this Saturday, October 6, when the Cambodian Federation of Rugby (CFR) hosts the first ever Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Women's Rugby 7's at the Phnom Penh Olympic Stadium.
The one day tournament, which kicks off at 8 :30 am and runs until 5 pm, features women's rugby teams from Singapore, Laos, Thailand, South Korea, and Cambodia.
The teams will play a 7-a side format, with 7 players on each team, as opposed to the usual 15 a-side format. The tournament will also mark the debut of the Cambodian women's national rugby team.
A 3 day development clinic for the competing teams, which starts Wednesday morning, and will be conducted by AFRU officials, will precede the tournament on Saturday. The clinic will provide instruction and coaching guidance to women players in various rugby skills and strategies.
"We are extremely pleased and honored to be hosting this historic tournament, " stated Philippe Monnin, CFR Secretary General.
" I am also pleased that the young women of our national team will be given the opportunity to compete internationally for the first time. It will be a valuable experience for them."
Monnin also thanked ANZ Royal Bank and the French Embassy in Phnom Penh for providing the sponsorship for the tournament.
"We appreciate ANZ's sponsorship of this event, as well as their commitment to rugby development in Cambodia, " stated Monnin. "We also value the kind assistance of the French Embassy. This tournament would not have been possible without their help. "
PLEASE NOTE: A press conference with representatives of the participating teams, as well as officials from the French Embassy, ARFU, and the CFR, will be held on Thursday, October 4, at 9:00 AM at the French Cultural Center, 218 Street 184, in Phnom Penh.
For further information contact:
Ray Leos
Director of Media Relations
Cambodian Federation of Rugby
Email: rayleos1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Telephone: 012 620 571