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 CLUB HISTORY |
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Southerners
RFC
Club History 1994 - 1999
The Southerners was formed
by a handful of mainly Kiwi rugby players who had
had difficulty adapting to the idiosyncrasies of
the British Club Rugby Section and their Club's
insistence on individuals becoming members of the
BC before being eligible to play.
In October 1994, when the Kiwi side Taradale RFC
contacted the BC that they were coming to Thailand
as a result of their winning the Taupiri 7s tournament
and receiving a healthy travel subsidy from Thai
Airways, the Club asked the BC to join them in an
ad hoc Sevens tournament with previously organized
teams from Guam and Taiwan to make a 'quadrangular'
competition over one evening.
The BC declined to become involved and the break-away
group (Aussie Ian Brydon and Kiwis Jack Tipene and
Rongo Reedy), on seeing they could field a sevens
side, agreed to organize the 'event' and to enter
as the fourth team which they decided to call "The
Southerners" which they foresaw could possibly be
sustained in the future with players from Australia,
New Zealand and South Africa.
By coincidence All Black, Zinzan Brooke arrived
in Bangkok doing a TV commercial for Thai Airways
and was quickly co-opted by the fledgling Southerners
team. Taradale by the way had All Black, Dallas
Seymour in their list plus a handful of All Black
trialists.
The competition, played at the Patana International
School then on Soi 15 (now NIST) proved to be a
success with Taradale coming out winners over the
Southerners and the usual 'party' followed at the
Taipan Hotel on Soi 23. The Southerners were then
on their way but the animosity between the new Club
and the BC has never really subsided.
The Southerners was officially established on 3
November 1994 when the Club's registration was accepted
by the Thai Rugby Union (TRU) and approval provided
to enter the British Council Cup Competition (Division
1).
Initially Southerners membership included players
from Germany, Switzerland, UK, USA, Australia, New
Zealand, South Africa & Thailand. Within the TRU,
the Southerners then joined other ex-patriate clubs
- the British Club, the Corsairs RFC consisting
of UK, French and New Zealand players and coaching
staff and the Bangkok Japanese (playing in the TRU
2nd Div).
After some promotional success, the new Club recruited
heavily and by October 1995 had around 140 members
on the books. Further, after the success of the
first "Bangkok Sevens" sponsored by Carlsberg Beer,
the Club finished with a very creditable financial
state of Baht 615,000.
In 1996, the Club decided to expand and entered
the Thai Cricket League, to commence playing in
the 1996/97 season. Also by this time, touch had
been a regular feature of the Club's activities
and in mid 1996, the first Touch Rugby Tournament
was held on the grounds of the Military Preparatory
School, Wireless Road.
In March 1997, the Club conducted its first overseas
tour to the Hong Kong 7's.
A Club paper "The Way head" was prepared in September
1995 and submitted to the TRU and to the Australian
and New Zealand Ambassadors (Club Patrons) from
which a Constitution was compiled and approved by
members in March 1998.
The Club's first 'home'base' was in the upstairs
area of the Moonshine Bar which was offered to the
Southerners free of charge but because the address
was not considered 'kosha' by some members, the
Club changed it's location to Delaney's Pub (now
The Exchange).
The Bangkok Sevens continued
as an important part of the Club's activities and
by February 1999, the Club's assets had grown to
Baht 1,227,000, however, the task of planning and
organizing the Event became a liability the Club
committee could not meet and as a consequence agreement
was reached with Brunsworth Limited for the Company
to take on all responsibilities for Sevens planning
and conduct.
Club Milestones
| First
President |
Nov
94 - Aug 95 |
Mark
Webster, Australian Embassy |
| Second
President |
Aug 95
- Feb 99 |
David
Dufall, Brunsworth Ltd |
| Third
President |
Feb 99
- Feb 02 |
John
Greenaway |
| Fourth
President |
Feb 02
- Feb 06 |
Vaughan
McClear |
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| First
Rugby coach |
Kiwi,
Peter Fox |
| First
Rugby captain |
Aussie,
Paul Cummins from Sydney |
| First
Cricket captain |
Aussie,
David Dufall |
| First
Touch captain |
Kiwi,
John Kowalczeck |
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Compiled: David Dufall
15 December 2005
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