Every now and then there will be the opportunity to meet the Executive Committee of the Rugby Football Association of Thailand under the royal auspices after a long absence due to the COVID-19 situation. Got good news that Lieutenant General Manat Chawanaprayoon, Vice President of the Association and Pol. Successful in his career, promoted from Lt. Gen. Manat Chawanaprayoon to Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Lt. Gen. Prakrit Monthatpalin to the Naval Affairs Department.
So for the past 4 years when Lieutenant Colonel Kulthan Prachuapmoh was chairing the club, he asked for permission to hold his knees and talk to the two greats in the Navy and the Air Force about rugby matters. those with Lt. Gen. Manat Chawanaprayoon will begin
Q – Why did you accept Lt. Col. Kunthon’s invitation to become vice president of the association?
Lt. Gen. Manat – I was very shocked at the time that Lt. Col. Kulthon was approached as Vice President of the Rugby Union. Because I see that I don’t have a lot of experience in sports. But personally, I have had a close relationship with Lieutenant Colonel Kunthon for a long time and I know he is a serious person. This is one of the reasons why I have decided to accept the invitation to become the association’s vice-president. Because I am confident that the president of this rugby union will definitely take the Thai rugby industry to a higher level. In addition, every board member has knowledge and skills. All the more, I have the confidence to accept this position as another force in the development of Thai rugby.
Q – How have you worked in rugby for the past 4 years?
Lt. Gen. Manat – It has to be divided into 2 parts: The first part is the development of the country What the brothers and sisters of the association board already have knowledge and skills to develop the domestic industry very well. As for me, I will look around take care of the second part, which is the relationship with foreign rugby. Because my idea is to bring the Thai rugby industry to an international level and I was fortunate enough to have Sahaphon Polpatthapee, Nattaphon Hemyu and Attaphon Wongrat help coordinate with overseas. The major event of the Thai Rugby Union is hosting the Asia Rugby Conference. including welcoming representatives from the Rugby World Cup to bring the World Cup trophy to Thailand It is a historic work that has it all. It has also made connections with many of the people who work in the world class rugby world.
Q – What will the future of the Air Force support?
Lt. Gen. Manat – I have to say that it is the upward trend of the Royal Thai Air Force rugby team that has won both the Thai Army Championship and the Thai Rugby Championship for both men’s and women’s teams in 27 years. It is considered a golden year that has it all. So the Air Force, which is developing a rugby team, has partnered with the Rugby Football Association so we can develop it together. The first thing the Air Force donated to rugby union was Thupatemi Stadium. To be used as a rugby field at national games. And privately, there is a possibility to take turns pushing competitive athletes into the government. and ready to take full care of them And I will tell the rugby players about The Air Force always said to stick to the word Thai national team as the main team. If you are in the national team, you lose the right to stand for the army to play it’s fine. And I’m sure the Air Force will be happy to support rugby union in the future.
Q – What direction do you want the Thai rugby industry to go in the future?
Lt. Gen. Manat – I have an idea similar to Pol. Lt. Col. Kunthon Prachuapmoh, to raise the rugby level in Thailand to a professional or semi-professional level because we want our rugby athletes to support a family to feed their stomachs. Or you might be forced to pursue a career in a foreign country if there are teams from overseas interested in getting Thai athletes to play Because at this point I think there is no way to grow up, when it’s still at the amateur level, as athletes can only play at a certain level. Then I have to move on to other jobs and try to do one more thing, bring world-class games or professional teams to the world stage. Come to compete in Thailand to incentivize Thais to take an interest in rugby. And it’s also the opening of Thai rugby for foreign teams.
To the longtime rugby veteran who served as the union’s general secretary for many generations. Of course it can’t be anyone else. Pole Lt. Gen. Prakhom Monthatpalin, who knows every corner of Thai rugby very well.
Q – How much have you seen the rugby industry evolve?
Lieutenant General – I have been in the rugby industry for a long time, working in every position in the association for nearly 20 years until I was acting secretary of the association three times and saw the change in the rugby industry over the year up and down below I have to be honest that this is considered the golden age of Thai rugby because Pol.Lt. Col. Kunthon is the association’s president. We can see that rugby is a great dedication. There have been leaps in development and new things that have happened to the Thai rugby industry. Obviously it is. As a coach we have a foreign coach of the New Zealand world champion “All Blacks”, Lote Lycabura. and the Thai national team travel to collect training in New Zealand It also pays attention to all competitions at an international level. and also expanding the base into the region to develop youth rugby in every region of Thailand. It must be admitted that Lt. Col. Kulthon has a broad vision and really wants to take Thai rugby to the international level.
Q – How will the Navy support the rugby industry?
Royal Thai Navy – Rugby with the Royal Thai Navy is considered the number 1 sport in the Royal Thai Navy and has built a reputation for the Royal Thai Navy almost every time for more than a decade in a row. Most rugby staff are with the Navy connected. Regardless of national team athletes, coaches, officials and referees, however, the Royal Thai Navy is ready and willing to give rugby the best possible support every time, such as the Royal Thai Naval Academy Stadium, Samut Prakan. There’s also the Air Force, Army, and Police who have continuously supported the industry. And most importantly, during this time we have the Thai Sports Authority (SAT) that has always helped make various guidelines a success.
Q – What needs to be done from now on to raise the level of Thai rugby?
Royal Thai Police – At the moment we are mainly focusing on seven man rugby but not 15 man rugby where we have a common goal of reaching the women’s team or getting as close as possible to the women’s team for the men’s team will first have to win a gold medal at the SEA Games and a medal at the Asian Games. Everything the association is doing during this time paves the way for the future, be it the expansion of branches in 3 regions, namely in the north, northeast and south, or to promote Thai staff such as Sahaphon Asia rugby. Finally, I would like to say once again that the Thai rugby industry has grown faster than before in this era and is considered a golden era.
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