Responding to an invitation from the Singapore Centaurus Rugby Club, the DHL Bangkok Lions Junior Rugby is sending four teams to play in a tournament in the island state.

The age groups represented are the under-9s, under-10s, under-12s and under-18s. The Lions will be led by club captain Michael Conrad and the touring rugby squad will play their fixtures on Saturday, September 25.

The DHL Bangkok Lions Rugby was formed earlier this year and has attracted upward of 200 young boys and girls of many nationalities aged between 4 and 17. Each Saturday morning they meet at Patana School grounds where rugby skills coaching is followed by matches across the various age groups.

Mini rugby is well developed in the major rugby playing nations and relative to Bangkok the Singapore mini rugby scene is more advanced, having been in operation for several years.

Nevertheless, the Bangkok Lions are looking forward to the opportunity to benchmark their development and use the skills they have been crafting over the past five months.

Sponsorship for the tour kit and equipment has been provided by Diethelm, Land Rover, Chubb, Food by Phone, DTC Travel and the illustrious Old Bangkok Bangers, who have this week returned from their own rugby tour to Limerick in Ireland.

While the Bangkok Lions will be looking to acquit themselves well in Singapore, the mini rugby essence of fun, fair play enjoyment and safety will be paramount. In true rugby spirit there will be a post tournament barbecue and an opportunity for these future rugby stars to share in the camaraderie of a sport which is expanding its borders in Asia.