The Pakistan under 20 national rugby team left for manila Philippines from Lahore airport, they are on tour to participate in the Asian under 20 Div II championship from 16-22nd of November, this is Pakistan 2 participation in international Junior age grade Rugby. the other participation was when Pakistan itself hosted the Asian under 19 championship in Lahore in which 11 international team competed in what was also a world cup qualifier a extremely successful event with over 450 participants .
The Asian Junior Championship Div II will have the following teams Philippines , Laos , Iran , and PakistanThe traveling squad is made of 24 players and two official the players areMohammad Hashim, Awais Ahmed Khan Niazi, Mian Ali Shan, Saad Arif Bashir, Romail Ashraf Qureshi, Syed Haroon Shah, Mustafa Mehdi, Syed Kamal Ali Shah , Bilal Khan, Umair Javed Mustaq, Ahsan Tariq Manzoor, Jawahir Azam, Shamvill Khan, Osman Ahmed Choudry, Areeb Ali , Abdul Samad, Khawar Ashraf, Waqar Javaid, Ayub Zafar, Abdullah, Muhammad Abu-Bakar Khan, Ahsan Ilyas, Ahsan Riaz and Mohammad Shakeel Chattaha,
Coach on tour is Mr. Mohsin Iqbal Khan who is a very experienced national team player who has been appointment to the PRU Youth development program on a full time basis The manger on tour is Mr. Fawzan Wain
President Fawzi khawaja commented that "with the development work done in schools over the past 5 years by PRU has meant that this year we are lucky to have a good pool of experienced junior players to choose from. and is looking forward to the development of the under 20 program
the captain on tour is Mr bilal khan from Islamabad rugby association and the Vice captain is Mr. waqar javed from the Multan district team
the Punjab Olympic association is holding the Lahore school and colligate games on 17 nov in which rugby is also being played with 12 schools and 6 collages just from Lahore a great acivment for the Pujab rugby assosition ,
The national team coach Rizwan malik stated that PRU as part of its 4 year Development strategy has given youth rugby the biggest emphasis and PRU having big plans to develop the under 20 program to the fullest. Currently there are over 50 schools all over Pakistan and with a 1000 players at age grade rugby and we would like to atleast double that number every year .
PRU has been holding camps for the boys for the last 3 month besides the camps the under 20 had a chance to have practice games against Lums university , Punjab Rugby Association Team , Lahore RFC, and Islamabad RFC the team also got lucky as 3 of the practices camps the coaching was by Mr. David Dwyer the national cricket team trainer who was a former Rugby Coach for a Professional rugby team in Australia , Mr. dyer volunteered his time to spend with the under 20 , and his input was invaluable .
The Philippines rugby football union also arranged for a tour of the historical part of Manila it is called Intermuros, the Philippine Department of Tourism will conduct the tour and will provide buses and guides for each team, , it is a good way to learn about another culture beside the great rugby experience for the young boys it will help in the future development of these boys
ARFU DIV 2 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Nov 16 - 22nd 2009
Tues 17th Nov @ International School of Manila (ISM)
5.00 pm Philippines V Laos
6.40pm Iran V Pakistan
Thurs 19th Nov @ (ISM)
5.00pm Philippines V Iran
6.40pm Pakistan V Laos
Sat 21st Nov @ Nomads Sports Field
3.00pm Iran V Laos
4.40pm Philippines V Pakistan
This is the first international participation for a junior national team it will be tough tour for the boys but the boys all have a great attitude and a hunger and will give it there best , this tour is defiantly a important step in the future of the development of rugby in Pakistan. the tour details will updated daily on the PRU website www.pakistanrugby.com
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