Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the Vietnam Sports Administration led by its Deputy Director Le Thi Hoang Yen held a working session with representatives of the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation led by Ada Milby, President of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU), member of the World Rugby Council, and member of the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation, in Hanoi on September 4.
The session focused on measures to further promote the development of rugby in Vietnam, while building a pool of athletes capable of representing the country at major international competitions in the future.
Speaking at the event, Milby highlighted Vietnam’s strong potential for rugby development. She noted that the sport is being widely promoted across Southeast Asia and requires a long-term strategy to establish a firm position on the global map.
One proposed solution is to introduce rugby into school programmes, initially in international schools, along with integrated knowledge and skills projects. This approach not only spreads the sport more widely but also helps identify and nurture young talent.
For her part, Yen emphasised that in Vietnam, rugby has attracted strong participation from women. Practicing the sport has enabled them to overcome barriers and integrate more confidently, demonstrating that rugby is not only a competitive discipline but also a positive tool for social change and women’s empowerment.
She reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to facilitating the growth of all sports, including rugby. To ensure the rugby sustainable development in line with national regulations, she said the administration will assign its units to study and design an appropriate roadmap for the sport’s expansion./.
