Great Weekend of Rugby in Viet Nam
Bạn đi chậm thế nào không phải là vấn đề miễn là bạn không dừng lại. It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.
Hanoi Dragons are the Inaugrial Champions of the Amora Hotels & Resorts Da Nang International Rugby 11s 2024. In a great perfomance in very hot and humid conditions, the Dragons just edged out their great rivals the Siagon Geckos in the final. Host team Da Nang Guerillas won the Plate beating the Chiang Mai Cobras from Thailand.
The weather was very hot & humid as the teams gathered at the Sân Vận Động BẮC QUẢNG NAM Stadium on the outskirts of Da Nang. After a fun welcome party Friday night at host club the Da Nang Guerillas’ sponsor, Esco Beach Club, some players could be excused for thinking that they had been ambushed! Although this inaugrial event was small it didnt lack for quality, drama and suspense. With all games in the men’s open 2 x 11 minutes halfs, it would be a challange as the day wore on, and the hot and the humid conditions, would take a toll on all the clubs.
In the men’s Open division, The Saigon Geckos got proceedings under way against the Da Nang Guerrilas, who’s ambush tactics of the night before seemed to backfire as they went down 24-0. The Hanoi Dragons were next up againt Chiang Mai Cobras and prevailed, after a hard fought encounter 20-14.
The Guerillas, after a sluggish start, were a different side in the 2nd round of games, almost causing an upset against early favourites, the Dragons before going down 12-0. In the 2nd game the CNX Cobras continued to impress against the Geckos, before going down 12-5 in the last play of the game.
The final round of group games saw the Dragons & the Geckos face off to see who would take top spot, going into the final. In a game of ebbs & flows and solid defence by both teams, the Geckos prevailed 10-5. In the final round robin match the Chiang Mai Cobras finally got the win that their brand of rugby deserved. Taking an early lead, and holding the guerillas out as they stormed back into the game, to win 14-7.
In the Plate final, the roles were reversed as the Guerillas overcame a tiring and injury ravaged Cobras side 17-5.
The final was a game of the highest quality, with both teams neither asking for, nor giving any quarter. In an attritional encounter, the Dragons took control early on, before the Geckos surged back into contention, to test the metal of this Hanoi side. A brace of tries by Hanoi speedster “Nguyen Hoang Son” gave the Dragons the advantage going into the final few minutes. The Geckos fought hard to get back into the mix, but a combination of solid defense and a tiring attack saw the Hanoi Dragons hold on to take the bragging rights and the Cup 12-0, as Inaugrial Da Nang 11s Rugby Champions.
In the Vets competition, a team that is fast becoming a regular on the 11s Rugby circuit is the Muddy Buffalos from the Philippines. Professing to be perennial underdogs, they charge in and end up with silverware, before disappearing into the evening mist, until rising to the challenge, of the next tournament. Da Nang was no different as they defeated the new kids on the block the Singaporean Dragons, and disappeared into the night!
Thank you to Henry Greef & the Da Nang Guerillas for all their hard work to ensure that the tournament was a success. The 2025 Da Nang 11s will be bigger and we all look forward to that!
I would like to thank Dimbulla Rugby 11s Officials manager, Jean Luc and his team of officials for doing a great and at times, thankless job.
Big thanks also to our Dimbulla Rugby 11s Sponsors, Amora Hotels & Resorts, Dimbulla Estate, Whitesmiths & Hell Energy Drink
Finally to all the teams & supporters who made the effort to ensure that the Inaugural Da Nang 11s was a success, THANK YOU!
