Features

ARFU 15s 2012 Profile: Chihiro Koga

Chihiro Koga's love for rugby has led her to her other love and some pretty special places.

In 1999, the former Japanese rugby international and graduate in Physical Education headed for the United States to improve and grow her game. To kill time between training sessions, she enrolled herself in California State University’s mass communications program where she discovered her passion for photography.

In 2002, Koga found herself in the West Bank and Gaza Strip documenting the ordinary lives of Palestinians. Two years later, the now intrepid freelance photographer ventured to Iraq in the aftermath of the war to capture the lives of people living in a conflict zone. Rugby played its hand again in 2008, when a month long visit to Iran on photography assignment also doubled up as a coaching stint assisting then head coach, Helen Vaaga, with the first ever women's 7s team in Iran’s history.

Since her refereeing career began in 2010, Koga has officiated matches in the US, Dubai, Laos and has recently returned from the Philippines where she refereed in the Asian Women's 15s Div II tournament. We caught up with Chihiro just before she heads to Kunshan for the Asian 4 Nations 2012.

Name: Chihiro Koga

Age: 35

Occupation: Freelance Photographer

Playing Position: Fly-Half

Number of years representing Japan : 1999-2002

Highlights of playing career: Women's Rugby World Cup in Spain 2002

Number of years refereeing: since January 2010

When and how did you start to play rugby?
I started rugby in 1995 when I went to college. My father used to play rugby, so I was interested in the sport.

What is the difference between being a player and a referee?
I run more now than when I was a player... ;)

The Japanese were the pioneers in Women's Rugby in Asia in the early 1990s and are still highly successful in Asia, what makes the Japanese successful and how has women's rugby in Japan changed since 1991?
Our chairwoman, Noriko Kishida, has put so much effort on our development. Without her, we have not come this far. In the beginning, we used to bear the costs of our own flights to play overseas even as representatives of Japan, but after Japan Rugby Football Union recognized women's rugby in 2002, it changed everything. Now, with the Olympic movement, more and more girls are playing rugby in Japan and the players are getting a lot of support from the Union.

ARFU 15s 2012 Profile: Anastassiya Khamova

Alain Rolland may have earned three caps for Ireland as a player before switching to refereeing where he reached the pinnacle of his career officiating the 2007 Rugby World Cup Finals between England and South Africa but Anastassiya Khamova can do one better.

A regular referee on the women’s circuit, Khamova can boast of enjoying both an international refereeing and playing career simultaneously as well as lay claim to having had a direct impact on the course of rugby in these exciting times for the worldwide rugby community.

Having been selected by the International Rugby Board to address the International Olympic Committee in its successful bid for the inclusion of 7s rugby in the 2016 Olympics, Khamova is also a member of the IRB Working Group for the global plan on the women’s game.

Next week, Khamova will leave her whistle at home so that she may don the blue and yellow jersey for Kazakhstan in the Asian 4 Nations 2012 (Div 1 of Asian Women’s 15s). Hav represented her country for last 10 years, she has participated in two Women’s Rugby World Cups and can call on countless women’s international games in her 7 years of refereeing, including the Hong Kong Women’s 7s finals in 2010. Here is a little more about Anastassiya.

photo by Ernest Li

Name: Anastassiya Khamova

Age: 32

Occupation: teacher

Playing Position: scrum-half, no 8, flanker

Highlights of Playing Career: 11th place in WWC 2006 and 2010

Highlights of refereeing career: Assistant Referee in the final game in Women's World Cup 7s

When and how did you start to play rugby?
In 2000 at university.

What is the difference between being a player and a referee?
There is no big difference, a lot of responsibility. You have to be fit and skillful.

Having won every Asian 15s Championship it has taken part in, Kazakhstan would be the favourites to win the Asian 4 Nations 2012 in July. However China has become a powerful force in women’s 7s in the last six years. Even if they have yet to develop their 15s game, do you see China as Kazakhstan's greatest competition or will Japan still pose a greater threat?
We haven’t seen China's 15s game anywhere, so this team will be surprise for us. All teams at the tournament will be strong and we are looking forward for the first game which will be against China.

Kazakhstan has dominated the Asian Women's 15s scene for the last 18 years but only beaten Sweden outside of Asia since its last World Cup win against South Africa in 2006, what do you think is the reason for this?
Women's 15s teams from all over the world have a lot of tournaments during the year specially Europe countries. I think in Asia ARFU should improve women's 15th with the more tournaments.

ARFU 15s 2012 Profile: Hoty Chan

Standing at 148cm and weighing 48 kilos, Hoty Chan is invariably one of the most recognisable characters in Hong Kong women’s rugby. Always armed with a cheeky grin, the diminutive scrumhalf has served her country for twelve years and every opponent who has played against her will readily testify of how her size belies her impact on the field.

We talked to Hoty about her rugby beginnings and Hong Kong’s preparations for the Asian Four Nations.

photo by Phoebe Leung

Name: Chan Ho Ting, Hoty

Age: 31

Occupation: Merchandiser

Club in HK: Causeway Bay RFC - Phoenix

How did you start playing Rugby?
There was a rugby promotion from the HKRFU in my secondary school when I was 15, I then joined a summer course. The coach, Rambo Leung, said I was very enthusiastic and diving all over the place, it wasn't even tackle rugby, naturally I stood out. So I decided to take up club rugby at CWB.

How has rugby changed your life?
Rugby has completely changed my life. I am stronger and fitter, however I am not taller, yet. I've travelled to many places including New Zealand, Australia and Kazakhstan. Six out of seven days I am doing something associated with rugby. I even met my boyfriend through rugby.

What are some of your best rugby memories?
Winning the Darwin 7s in 2002 was the best moment on the pitch. And off the pitch, promoting rugby with George Gregan this year.

Your size has never stopped you from being successful in your rugby career, how have you dealt with what others perceive as a shortcoming?
In some ways, my size has helped me because I only have one position to choose from, scrum-half. So I didn't waste any time trying to find my position. Tall girls find it hard to tackle me and some referees protect me, so our team receives many penalties.

However, if someone gets a good hit on me, I fly a long way. It's hard for me to dominate tackles on big girls, so I have to accept this and just go low.

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