BACKGROUND - Pat Cotter has been an institution in Thailand Rugby for close to 20 years and the fruit of his experience could be seen in the 17th Phuket Tens. 2016 witnessed two competitions, the Coffin Dodgers (Vets) who play their qualifying games on Friday and the final on the Sunday afternoon, while the larger mens competition played on Saturday and Sunday.  Visiting teams come from far and wide including Europe, the Middle East and Australia, and for many of them their tour had already started having been in Phuket for much of the preceding week leading up to the tournament.

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FRIDAY - 16 Veteran teams assembled at Thanyapura in what was a smoothly organised, great spirited day of Rugby. One highlight was the participation of the Flying Elvis' a team consisting of internationals like Totai Kefu, Julian Huxley, Radike Samo, amongst many others. They played with flair and class, but told me their highlight was socalising with their opposition after each game. With some great tunes pumping through the PA along with Pats regular wise cracks, it was everything you would hope from a Phuket Rugby tournament. 

Friday night's function was also a typical laid back tropical affair courtesy of the sponsors The Hooters Bar. Here the vets teams wound down, while the mens got wound up in anticipation for their competition including the local lads - The Phuket Vagabonds.

 

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SATURDAY -   The darkest clouds rolled over during the morning and it was hard to know whether it was night or day. But no one was worried. Thanyapurra's aritifical turf pitch came to the fore allowing play to continue as per usual. Many of the players (the English ones) actually preferred to playing in cool rain. Under the grandstand the Food Court came to the fore with sponsors like London Pies and Black Rat Cider keeping our spirits high. To top it all of we very priviledged to have Pintar Media give us a live a broadcast of the action on the pitch on a big screen television. This is the first time I had seen this at a social tournament in the region and it is a great intiative.

 

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SATURDAY NIGHT - All day Pat had been advertising the Virgin Beauty Pageant which was held at the Taipan bar on the infamous Bangla Rd in Patong. Its a bit hard to describe the night here, except to say it contained three hours of beer, food, loud music, flashing lights, jump suite Elvis' and cross dressing rugby players doing all kinds of compromising things to win an unorthodox beauty competition. At around midnight the pagaent ended, but the players then poured out onto the Bangla Rd, as their night was just beginning. 

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SUNDAY - The sun poked through on Sunday and the quality rugby continued. At around 2pm the growing crowd were treated to a colourful Thai presentation from the AFC Charity who have been supported by the Phuket 10s since the tsnumni in 2001.  Visiting teams and players have been supporting the AFC for over ten years, with some increasing their giving as they saw the positive changes in the lives of children and families.

The finals threw up a few surprises with the star-studded Flying Elvis' getting beaten 12-0 by the UK's Avery Care Home who had a few trump cards of their own. The cup final was handsomely won by the Malaysian RMP Seniors over Moorabbin Rams 37-19 under the Thanyapura flood lights as this great tournament came to a close.

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CONCLUSION - It is no surprise to that this tournament has a long standing continious commitment of teams from all over the world. Its also no surprise to learn that within weeks of the 2016 finishing, that 2017 spots were quickly filling with new teams wanting to come. If beach, bars, great social rugby is your things, then don't hesitate to contact Pat today. I know I will be there!

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