ARFU 15s 2012 Profile: Prakit Hongsaenyatham

There are not many men who can claim to be as passionate about women's rugby in South East Asia as Dr Prakit Hongsaenyatham. Having been involved in the development of women's rugby in Thailand for over a decade, every rugby-playing province in the Land of Smiles has been touched by the man in his efforts to develop the game for women. It was also through his tireless lobbying that women's rugby was established in Laos and Cambodia and subsequently included for the first time in the SEA Games in 2007.

Name: Dr Prakit Hongsaenyatham
Occupation: Vice President of Quality Assurance at the Institute of Physical Education, Thailand.

How long have you been involved with women's rugby in Thailand?
I've been involved in some way or the other with the women's national team and women's rugby in Thailand since 2000.

What is the profile of the Thai women's rugby team who will be competing in Manila?
Most of the girls are from the central and north-eastern provinces of Thailand. The youngest player is 16 years old and our oldest player is 34 years old. Majority of the squad played in last year's ARFU Women's 15s Div II in Vientiane. This year we were also able to call on 6 players from the Thai women's 7s team.

How long has the team been training?
We've gotten the squad together for the last two weeks at the Chonburi campus of Bangkok PE College. It's not a long time but we are training hard.

Quickfire


All time Favourite Player: John Eales


All time Favourite Team: Wallabies

If I didn't spend all this time coaching rugby, I'd: still be involved in rugby on way or the other!

Favourite local food/dish: Pad Thai