Grass roots RL taking off globally -- now Asia : Wed Dec 17, 2014 3:48 pm
New developments at the grass roots taking place in Asia.Thailand now has a four team domestic competition. And in Thailand it is not a team of mostly western expats. For example in the final of the domestic competition played just recently 31 out of 34 players were ethnic Thai. It is hoped that the number of clubs will expand in 2015. Thailand needs to be strengthened greatly to take on the might of Southeast Asian champions the Philippines. That is because the Philippines can draw on several NRL players who have Filipino mothers (e.g. GC Titans winger/full back Kevin Gordon, and his brother, Titans hooker Matt Srama and his brother).
Rugby league is also starting to emerge in Hong Kong, and in the most unlikely place of all, Pakistan, though information on these two is a bit sketchy at the moment.
But all in all it is a good thing for international rugby league if domestic competitions can be formed in these countries.