In September, an underdog rugby team of poor students from Ban Bak Primary School in Ubon Ratchathani won people's hearts on social media as they pitted themseves against Vajiravudh College, Thailand's elite rugby school.
After beating King's College, another top-performing rugby school, the Ban Bak students moved to compete in the finalist round of the league's competition.
They didn't win the match, but they gained the awe and affection of onlookers, touched by their dedication.
For rookies who had trained for less than six months, competing against students who were trained by professional rugby athletes for several decades was considered an incredible feat and admirable challenge.
Although they lacked the proper shoes and training equipment, the students who were trained in bare feet took their game to the next level.
After the legendary match against Vajiravudh College, Ban Bak rugby team coach Thongchai Muangchan knew he had to train his team to take it to the next level. He began recruiting more students from his school to join the team. This time, he wanted to recruit new players from as young as the age of 10 to give them a proper three years of training while in school.
Mr Thongchai is now also in the process of assembling a girls' team to compete at the regional level. He says that girls generally grow faster than boys at the same age, so they have a stronger chance of winning games.
One of the biggest challenges the school is facing is an insufficient budget for training equipment, which most top rugby schools in Thailand have access to. However, after their display against Vajiravudh College, Ban Bak school drew a lot of media attention. And with that came donations.
Strangers, inspired by their story, donated enough money to allow them to purchase the necessary training equipment, such as helmets and tackle boards.
Most importantly, these students no longer have to run in bare feet while training since many donors sent them shoes.
"After that match [with Vajiravudh College], I knew I had to do more if I wanted to push this sport forward," Mr Thongchai told Spectrum. "I took my students to attend some regional matches. Many of them went there as spectators, while some of them got to be a part of the elite team in the competition.
"We were also invited by the rugby association in Laos to compete in their league in February. So I will take my students to go there just to let them experience a real game. I will tell them what I told them before which is not to expect anything. Just try your best."
Some of Ban Bak School's rugby players who are graduating next year have been offered rugby athlete scholarships at Chaloem Phrakiat Somdet Phrasinakarin Roi Et School, widely considered the best school for rugby in the northeastern region of Thailand.
out of left field: Ban Bak School's barefoot rugby players emphasise speedy attacking over defence when taking on big opponents. PHOTOS: BANGKOK POST ARCHIVE