P R O F I L E S

For the uninformed: (touch rugby was first introduced in Singapore in 1995, the first national contact rugby team was formed in October 1996, training for first international tournament - HK women’s 7s in 1997)

Better known (and described) as Toh Tao Peng to some, and Xena to others - a classic case on how fate does make sport of us. Not that it’s a bad thing in this story.

It all began slightly more than a decade ago (we’re not too sure how much more), with one young(er) Ennie going past the Padang with Dad in tow, and remarking at the barbarianism and stupidity in rugby, as displayed by a group of misunderstood dudes who were then frolicking in the dirt with an odd-shaped ball.

Needless to say, she had to eat her own hat when she captained the first women’s rugby team in 1997. Goodness knows when consuming a non-consumable, whether it tasted good, but her old man did get a right laugh out of it.

This pretty miss is a bona fide star in her own right, both on the national and club scene. When not attempting to outrun and out tackle young lasses on the field, she spends her time playing travel agent, manager and meticulous itinerary planner for National and Blacks’ tours. (Note: Never bite the hand that has the power to put you up in your nightmare of a Bangkok budget hotel).

For the love of the game, and as the dedicated team manager that she is, she used to spend Sundays scrubbing rugby balls and cleaning equipment. How’s that for selflessness? She draws inspiration from watching players train, respects Peter Randall (the first CEO of SRU), and derives support from the team and its determination to excel.

Well, there’s no synchronized swimming in Singapore and I’m way too late/old to be spotted for national swimming team – my other love. Bumped into rugby quite accidentally.

Well you said “once” right? Haha, it “was” hyper. Don’t need alcohol to get high like this, Was basically a tackling machine out there, you don’t see me up and running much, always down on the ground “cushioning” on someone. My jersey’s always the dirtiest hahaha.

“I’ll only make 7 tackles in a game, I’ll only tackle each player once, cos I’ll send them straight to the medical tent after that”

Rumours are that you’ll be starting 15s training soon - Raring for another taste of international glory? Or is this the 7-year itch that comes with retirement?

Nah, I itch every year but there are all these young, innocent, naïve, “um chia see” (hokkien translated – don’t know what’s death) gals speeding pass me all the time, making it very tough for me to make a come back. Hahahha..fitness is one BIG factor for me to catch up with them plus they’re young, pretty, fast, slim... sigh and the list goes on…

I’ll definitely still want to have a go with 15s, for the experience at least, selection is not key to me anymore but there's pressure knowing that people are watching and expecting from me due to past long overdue glory. That’s another factor to overcome.

What is this we hear about you intoxicating two Blacks national players with your secret weapon on a national tour to HK in 2003?

Aiyoh, rugby players are so good at telling tales, you don’t know meh! Tales are for you to listen and laugh about, not for you to believe my dear, not of cos until you encounter one personally. Hahah…so when’re you free?

It was the friendship, that team spirit, comradeship… you know what I mean? Seeing the growth of it day by day and the enjoyment, achievement we all get out of it. That fateful year – 1994 – when I first starting working with the SRU, my fate was sealed to eat, sleep, drink, breathe, live rugby. That was my youth man!

Plus our very successful recruitment in 1998 (I think) that recruited abt 100 members, seeing abt 50-60 gals at each training session. The guys were really threatened for a while. Haha. But they also enjoyed the crowd.

Starting up is only one part of it. Maintaining it is another. I give it to the current gang Jane, Wing, Serena, Tabi, Eunice and newbies like you (actually not really anymore hor?) – it’s you gals that make Blacks what we are right now. And of cos “kao tao” to Gene and Chongfu for their “almost no secret motives” voluntary efforts to the gals (but not before Gene got Serena and Chongfu… *ahem*)

In the beginning… it was a group called the “blacks angels” that went unnoticed until the blacks babes, blacks terrible, blacks horrible, blacks untouchable… teams came in and of course the guys came flocking in too. The guys were all queuing up on the wait list to be the coach for the gals as one coach could no longer manage the big group of 50-60 gals per session.

The Blacks management committee also said they have the highest and most consistent record of male players in attendance at training ever…

Your strange relationship with gravity while on field is legendary. Many a Blacks newbie/junior has heard a tale or two about this, with lao-chais retelling them every chance they get, and if I may add, with much glee.

These precious gems are the ones that make me bounce back on my feet effortlessly tackle after tackle. Grade one cushion. And do you know there was once a group in blacks called “the three sisters”? not the Australia blue mountains/three sisters ok. But I’m the only member left – go find out more yourself, heh.

You’ve worked at the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU), left, and now you’re back again. Would you say that this is your calling?

Well, I’ve been doing these all along anyway, so might as well be paid for it, heh. Plus this year and years to come are really exciting with us hosting the Asian Women’s Sevens Championships for the first time, and 15s formation for the first time for the RWC qualifiers… blah blah blah… who can walk pass without turning their head?

It’s now or never. Growth is exploding. If we continue what we’re doing now, we can be the untouchable top 3 nations for both 15s & 7s in Asia in the next 2-3 years and put ourselves on the world map.




	Name : Ennie Toh Y.O.R.B. (year of rugger birth): Since it started in Singapore – 1996 For the uninformed: (touch rugby was first introduced in Singapore in 1995, the first national contact rugby team was formed in October 1996, training for first international tournament - HK women’s 7s in 1997) Ruckin' with BLACKS since : 1998 Better known (and described) as Toh Tao Peng to some, and Xena to others - a classic case on how fate does make sport of us. Not that it’s a bad thing in this story. It all began slightly more than a decade ago (we’re not too sure how much more), with one young(er) Ennie going past the Padang with Dad in tow, and remarking at the barbarianism and stupidity in rugby, as displayed by a group of misunderstood dudes who were then frolicking in the dirt with an odd-shaped ball. Needless to say, she had to eat her own hat when she captained the first women’s rugby team in 1997. Goodness knows when consuming a non-consumable, whether it tasted good, but her old man did get a right laugh out of it. This pretty miss is a bona fide star in her own right, both on the national and club scene. When not attempting to outrun and out tackle young lasses on the field, she spends her time playing travel agent, manager and meticulous itinerary planner for National and Blacks’ tours. (Note: Never bite the hand that has the power to put you up in your nightmare of a Bangkok budget hotel). For the love of the game, and as the dedicated team manager that she is, she used to spend Sundays scrubbing rugby balls and cleaning equipment. How’s that for selflessness? She draws inspiration from watching players train, respects Peter Randall (the first CEO of SRU), and derives support from the team and its determination to excel. But with all that said, words still fail to properly describe her legacy. Read on. *You look more erhmm* synchronized swimmer than rugger. Why rugby? Well, there’s no synchronized swimming in Singapore and I’m way too late/old to be spotted for national swimming team – my other love. Bumped into rugby quite accidentally. "I was working in an (all men) environment (SRU) where they eat, sleep, drink, breathe and live rugby, plus the gossip was really juicy – so as they say, you want more, you’ve got to get into it yourself – Xena was born then." You were a once a sword-welding, ass-kicking, national rugby player. How was it like? Well you said “once” right? Haha, it “was” hyper. Don’t need alcohol to get high like this, Was basically a tackling machine out there, you don’t see me up and running much, always down on the ground “cushioning” on someone. My jersey’s always the dirtiest hahaha. Some of the things I always say to myself and of the opposition: “I clear bums, I don’t like bums hanging around in front of me” “I’ll only make 7 tackles in a game, I’ll only tackle each player once, cos I’ll send them straight to the medical tent after that” Two of the most unforgettable tackles I had: Against Thailand, first game, first minute, I went “boom” and she went “arghh”... I never saw her again… on the field. Against Hong Kong 5-10 to us, seconds to final whistle, this HK gal was metres to our try line, "I came chasing from the back (don’t ask me how come I was there in time or played rover position… probably still resting from the last tackle, heh.) anyway, I caught up with her, tackled and threw her backward 5 meters away from our try line. We won the game." I never know how the hell I did that impossible tackle. It was shiok ah! Rumours are that you’ll be starting 15s training soon - Raring for another taste of international glory? Or is this the 7-year itch that comes with retirement? Nah, I itch every year but there are all these young, innocent, naïve, “um chia see” (hokkien translated – don’t know what’s death) gals speeding pass me all the time, making it very tough for me to make a come back. Hahahha..fitness is one BIG factor for me to catch up with them plus they’re young, pretty, fast, slim... sigh and the list goes on… I’ll definitely still want to have a go with 15s, for the experience at least, selection is not key to me anymore but there's pressure knowing that people are watching and expecting from me due to past long overdue glory. That’s another factor to overcome. What is this we hear about you intoxicating two Blacks national players with your secret weapon on a national tour to HK in 2003? Aiyoh, rugby players are so good at telling tales, you don’t know meh! Tales are for you to listen and laugh about, not for you to believe my dear, not of cos until you encounter one personally. Hahah…so when’re you free? Back in 1999, you were peddling contact rugby to anyone and everyone who crossed your path. What motivated you?** It was the friendship, that team spirit, comradeship… you know what I mean? Seeing the growth of it day by day and the enjoyment, achievement we all get out of it. That fateful year – 1994 – when I first starting working with the SRU, my fate was sealed to eat, sleep, drink, breathe, live rugby. That was my youth man! Plus our very successful recruitment in 1998 (I think) that recruited abt 100 members, seeing abt 50-60 gals at each training session. The guys were really threatened for a while. Haha. But they also enjoyed the crowd. Starting up is only one part of it. Maintaining it is another. I give it to the current gang Jane, Wing, Serena, Tabi, Eunice and newbies like you (actually not really anymore hor?) – it’s you gals that make Blacks what we are right now. And of cos “kao tao” to Gene and Chongfu for their “almost no secret motives” voluntary efforts to the gals (but not before Gene got Serena and Chongfu… ahem) Complete this. In the beginning….. In the beginning… it was a group called the “blacks angels” that went unnoticed until the blacks babes, blacks terrible, blacks horrible, blacks untouchable… teams came in and of course the guys came flocking in too. The guys were all queuing up on the wait list to be the coach for the gals as one coach could no longer manage the big group of 50-60 gals per session. The Blacks management committee also said they have the highest and most consistent record of male players in attendance at training ever… Your strange relationship with gravity while on field is legendary. Many a Blacks newbie/junior has heard a tale or two about this, with lao-chais retelling them every chance they get, and if I may add, with much glee. Just to verify that it’s no urban myth, what say you about this? Well, I understand them. You know what I mean… when you don’t have it… haha. You know that MasterCard commercial ad?... Mouth guard… $30 Shoulder guard… $60 Ankle guard… $80 Natural chest guard… Xena bra - priceless. There’re some things you can’t buy. These precious gems are the ones that make me bounce back on my feet effortlessly tackle after tackle. Grade one cushion. And do you know there was once a group in blacks called “the three sisters”? not the Australia blue mountains/three sisters ok. But I’m the only member left – go find out more yourself, heh. You’ve worked at the Singapore Rugby Union (SRU), left, and now you’re back again. Would you say that this is your calling? Well, I’ve been doing these all along anyway, so might as well be paid for it, heh. Plus this year and years to come are really exciting with us hosting the Asian Women’s Sevens Championships for the first time, and 15s formation for the first time for the RWC qualifiers… blah blah blah… who can walk pass without turning their head? Looking back, would you have done anything differently? Nope, till today, I’m glad I didn’t. And finally, what is your vision for women’s contact rugby in Singapore? It’s now or never. Growth is exploding. If we continue what we’re doing now, we can be the untouchable top 3 nations for both 15s & 7s in Asia in the next 2-3 years and put ourselves on the world map. . interview by inky . photos by skookum tumtum .