Rugby is one the fastest growing sports in Laos, especially for women. According to the New York Times, over 50% of Lao Rugby Federation players and coaches are women. In order to lay the foundation for the course, students will begin by investigating the management processes of rugby teams/leagues in both the US and Laos. The class will then dive deeper into how sports, and rugby in particular, can be used as a mechanism to impact social justice issues of inequality across dimensions such as race, gender, class, etc. Students will gain a holistic view of the impact of rugby on the international stage. Over winter break, students will travel to multiple cities in Laos to determine the extent to which rugby has transformed Laotian communities. Visits to local markets, a tour of the Lao Rugby Federation, and a stop at the Plain of Jars historical sights are planned. Students will also participate in several activities with local Lao rugby players and coaches including a Tag Rugby law clinic, a traditional international rugby competition and social event, as well as observing a Lao women’s national team training session. Students will have the opportunity to interview Laotian rugby figures about the transformative impact of rugby on the country of Laos. This course may be most appropriate for students interested in Sports, Sport Management, Business, Gender, Kinesiology, Athletics, and Social Justice. The academic courses associated with this program is KIN 398 and 399: LAOS: Advancing the Playing Field: Empowering Marginalized Youth Through Sport for 4 total credits. It will be taught by Drs. Robert Lyons, James Allen, and Coach Katie Wurst in Spring 2021 with Spring Break travel. This is an OPEN program. *all itinerary items are tentative and subject to change*
Quick Facts
Population: 6586266 Capital: Vientiane Per-capita GDP: $ 2700 Size: 236800 km2 Time Zone: (GMT + 07:00 hours) Bangkok, Hanoi, Jakarta
US State Department
Travel Warning: YES See : Country Specific Info.