Thai Rugby Tests Team Before Asian Games in Japan
Thai rugby will compete in the Asia Series in China in late August before the 20th Asian Games in Japan, where the women's team is confident of winning at least a bronze medal.
Thai rugby will have a good opportunity to test its teams in the 2026 Asia Series first leg from August 26-31 in China, ahead of competing in the 20th Asian Games from September 19 to October 4 in Japan. The Thai Rugby Football Association is confident the women's team will secure a medal. Both the men's and women's sevens teams competing in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, are continuing intensive training with support from the Thailand Sports Authority and the National Sports Development Fund.
Before entering the 20th Asian Games, the Thai rugby team will test itself in the 2026 Asia Series first leg from August 26-31 in China, a tournament featuring leading Asian nations that will also compete at the Asian Games.
Police Colonel Gulthorn Prajuab, president of the Thai Rugby Football Association, revealed that the association has set clear targets to win medals at these Asian Games, particularly the women's team, which is confident of bringing back at least one bronze medal.
"At these Asian Games, the Thai rugby team will definitely have at least one bronze medal from the women's team. The teams we must beat are Hong Kong and Kazakhstan. For the men's team, we have refreshed more than half the squad from the recent SEA Games champions, and we have called up two Thai-origin rugby players from abroad to strengthen the team, with a goal of making the top six," Gulthorn said.
The association president added thanks to the Thailand Sports Authority for consistently supporting the rugby association and monitoring its performance at international venues.
Rugby at the 20th Asian Games will feature the sevens format, competing for two gold medals. The women's tournament has eight teams divided into two groups in the first round. Thailand is in Group A with host Japan, Kazakhstan, and Singapore, while Group B includes China, Hong Kong, India, and Malaysia.
The men's tournament has twelve teams divided into three groups in the first round. Thailand is in Group B with host Japan, South Korea, and Kazakhstan; Group A includes China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Uzbekistan; and Group C includes Sri Lanka, United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and the Philippines.
