PHUKET TOWN: More than 20 teams from all over Asia are now booked to compete in the Phuket Island Lager International Rugby 10’s tournament at Saphan Hin stadium on May 26 and 27.

Chairman of the organizing committee, Patrick Cotter, told the Gazette that this year will be the biggest event by far in the tournament’s three-year history, and will see some very serious sides vying for honors.

The team to beat, says Cotter, will be the invitational Phuket Barbarians side, a mixture of senior amateur and semi-professional players sponsored by the British Business Association of Phuket.

Teams likely to be snapping at the favorites’ heels are the Australian Airforce Tigers; Hong Kong FC, who were the 1999 champions; and last year’s winners, the Bangkok British Club.

Dark horses with the potential to cause upsets include the British Army side from Brunei and Barrel House RFC from Dubai, another invitational team that only comes together for tours.

Individual players to look out for include Martin Williams, the former Singapore International captain, and Michael McNeil, former Scotland Under 21s international.

Admission to the event is free, and there will be a food and a beer tent.

The tournament recently obtained its main sponsorship from Phuket Island Lager. Ekaraj Intravisit, the general manager of Phuket Island Trading Co, which distributes the beer, said, “We have watched this event grow in popularity over the past two years and we believe this year they have taken it to another level.”

Cotter agreed. He said, “This year we have seen a huge increase in the number of teams, and in the interest shown by the expat community. Who knows? Next year, we could rival the King’s Cup [for popularity].”

KOH KAEW: The Phuket Vagabonds Rugby Club (formerly the Phuket Gazettes) started their preparations for next month’s International Tens Tournament with a convincing 30-20 win on Monday over the US Marines from the visiting USS Boxer.

The Vagabonds took the initiative early in the game, played at Dulwich International College (DIC), piling up a 15-point lead before the Americans finally forced their way over the line.

Despite the youth, size and fitness of the American Marines, the Phuket team maintained a comfortable lead throughout the game.

To the Vagabonds’ credit, the customary collapse in the final quarter of the game – when tired legs and the heat usually take their toll – never transpired.

Visiting and potential players are invited to join the Vagabonds’ training and practice matches. For more information call Patrick Cotter at 01-8920093 or Ben Hennessy at 01-9794909.

PHUKET TOWN: If the Phuket Island Lager International Rugby 10s is not enough to satisfy local sports fans’ appetites for live sport, the following weekend (June 2 and 3) offers more, in the form of the Asian Gaelic Games.

Due to be staged at the Saphan Hin Stadium for the second year running, the event has attracted more than 200 Irish expatriates plus a bunch of Aussies.

Gaelic Football looks like a mixture of soccer and rugby. It is thought to be the origin of Australian Rules Football.

To the untrained eye it looks like a huge punch-up with a ball being thrown in for the sake of appearances. But aficionados say the game has many subtleties once one understands the “rules”.

Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the rules should e-mail our Toon Town correspondent, Konrad Stalin, at konradstalin@hotmail.com.

KATHU: The Loch Palm Golf Club has announced the dates of the remaining rounds of its annual golf tournament. The tournament, which began with the Loch Palm Golf Club Invitation on April 21, consists of three preliminary rounds and a “Champion of Champions” final.

The second round, the Loch Palm Golf Club Open, will be on June 16, while the third, the Loch Palm Golf Club Championship, will be on September 8. The Champion of Champions final will be played on November 3.

There are three flights in each round. The winner of each flight will go on to play in the final, as will the low-gross winner in each round.

The final will also be open for other players who, although not eligible for the main prizes, will have the chance to compete for nearest-to-pin, longest drive, hole-in-one and par 3 prizes.

Entry fees for each round are 800 baht for members and 1,000 baht for non-members.

For further information or to register, call 321929-34, ext 101-102.