RUGBY UNION IN THE PHILIPPINES!

[cappelan]

Hi,

I'm a Filipino/Australian who’s excited that local Filipino players have finally taken up the game I love. Filipino locals have been playing Union in some numbers since 2003. This post is aimed at informing the World Rugby Community that Rugby has a foothold in the Philippines and to make contact with Filipinos in the Philippine Diaspora who play Rugby that they now play it in the “Home Countryâ€Â.

FYI websites regarding Rugby in the Philippines:

http://www.ceburugby.com/

http://gjphoto.smugmug.com/Sports

http://www.manila10s.com/

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/m...040326lif6.html

http://www.nomadsrugby.com/

http://www.nomadsportsclub.com/sports_rugby.aspx

http://www.pbase.com/danieldy/rugby

http://www.philippinerugby.com/

http://www.prfu.com/

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/maaprufc/

http://www.virtual-asia.com/ph/leisure/recreation/rugby.html

For those interested on more info contact Jay on [email protected] or Trevor on [email protected] - these emails are located on the PRFU website www.prfu.com/ They would be interested in hearing from any local Pinoys who play Rugby Union & I guess Rugby League anywhere in the world.

[davieG]

Hi,

I'm a Filipino/Australian who's excited that local Filipino players have finally taken up the game I love. Filipino locals have been playing Union in some numbers since 2003. This post is aimed at informing the World Rugby Community that Rugby has a foothold in the Philippines and to make contact with Filipinos in the Philippine Diaspora who play Rugby that they now play it in the "Home Country".

FYI websites regarding Rugby in the Philippines:

http://www.ceburugby.com/

http://gjphoto.smugmug.com/Sports

http://www.manila10s.com/

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2004/m...040326lif6.html

http://www.nomadsrugby.com/

http://www.nomadsportsclub.com/sports_rugby.aspx

http://www.pbase.com/danieldy/rugby

http://www.philippinerugby.com/

http://www.prfu.com/

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/maaprufc/

http://www.virtual-asia.com/ph/leisure/recreation/rugby.html

For those interested on more info contact Jay on [email protected] or Trevor on [email protected] - these emails are located on the PRFU website www.prfu.com/ They would be interested in hearing from any local Pinoys who play Rugby Union & I guess Rugby League anywhere in the world.

Try posting it here you might get a better response and itbwould make more sense

Good Luck with your campaign

[cappelan]

Try posting it here you might get a better response and itbwould make more sense

Good Luck with your campaign

Thanks Davie I'll try the Tigers site.

[King Kyle lcfc]

I'm going to the phillipines from march 21- April 21 might try to catch a couple of games

[cappelan]

I'm going to the phillipines from march 21- April 21 might try to catch a couple of games

Great you'll arive just in time for the Manila 10s tournament.

http://www.manila10s.com/

24-26 March 2006

You may need to get in touch with Jay or Trevor for tickets. There addressess are on the PRFU website

http://www.prfu.com/

[cappelan]

http://www.irbsevens.com/News/050623+SL+SEA+games.htm

SEA Games welcomes Rugby Sevens

23 APRIL 2005

The Philippine Olympic Committee has confirmed that the Philippine Rugby Football Union can, for the first time, run a Rugby Sevens tournament as a Site Sport in conjunction with the South East Asian (SEA) Games later this year.

The move gives rugby Sevens the chance to shine in another multi-sport environment, having already proved a successful core ingredient of the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the World Games.

The news is a further boost ahead of 8 July, when the IOC members will vote on whether the sporting programme of the 2012 Olympic Games will be changed to incorporate new sports, of which rugby is a shortlisted contender.

Reaction from the SEA participating unions has also been positive and teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia are expected to take part in the two-day tournament, which is due to run on 3 December.

Meanwhile, it has also been agreed to expand the next Asian Rugby Football Tournament (ARFT) in Sri Lanka in November 2006 from 12 teams to a maximum of 18, opening the door for smaller nations such as the Philippines.

http://www.myph.com.ph/myph_at_leisure.htm

Games: Basketball out, rugby in

About 7,000 athletes from 11 countries are on their way to the Philippines to participate in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games which begin on November 27. A total of 441 gold medals are at stake in 41 events.

In a dramatic turnaround by Philippine standards, however, basketball will not be in the program for the first time ever – and rugby will be a part of the SEA Games for the first time.

Basketball-crazy Philippines has yanked the sport from the upcoming Games for the first time in the history of the bi-annual sports event. The Philippine Olympic Committee has canceled hoops after failing to secure backing from the International Basketball Federation.

The loss of the country’s favorite sport follows months of infighting and political bickering among the sport’s local administrators. FIBA in June banned the Philippine team from tournaments it sanctions after the POC expelled the local Basketball Association of the Philippines, the sole member association recognized by the world sporting body.

POC chairman Roberto Aventajado said the expulsion of the BAP is meant to pave the way for reorganization of the country's basketball program, after poor performances of national teams in past international tournaments.

Mr Aventajado said the BAP has failed to spur the growth of basketball, considered a national sport in this former American colony. "From a powerhouse 20 years ago, we are now cellar-dwellers. Countries which we used to beat easily have been beating us by over 40 or 60 points."

However, the upcoming SEA Games represent the official arrival of rugby at the SEA Games. The seven-a-side version of rugby will be played in Manila over the weekend of December 3-4 after the POC have the go-ahead for the Philippine Rugby Football Union to run a rugby sevens tournament as a site sport.

Rugby teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia are expected to take part in the two-day tournament. The Philippines has the largest contingent with 743 competing athletes.

The Philippine government authorities have promised extra tight security around all Games venues – which are spread out in several cities - as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks. Even the possibility of bird flu is being looked at, and all arriving athletes will be specially screened against the deadly virus.

Information: http://www.2005seagames.com.ph website.

[cappelan]

Quote from one of the Local Filipino Rugby players watching the SEA Rugby 7s match

"The Philippines Rugby Football Union Filipino side team played their first international match at the Nomads Sport Complex in Merville. They were the selection chosen to play 7's a side rugby. Their opponents were the national team of Indonesia. They were generally bigger than the Philippine team, but everyone heard the Philippine team in a room yelling and rallying themselves. They came out to the field with the Filipino flag and stood shoulder to shoulder and sang the Filipino national anthem.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was a bit nervous, since the National team was created and trained in only 6 weeks, whilst the Indonesian team has been training for 18 months for their first international rugby match. And, most of the Indonesians have been playing for years, while there were only about 4 experienced rugby players on the Philippine team that either have played in other countries during high school and adult level, and two professional rugby players from Australia. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Philippines had a convincing win over their opponents from Indonesia, 32-5".

[cappelan]

Interesting article from the Indonesian perspective of the Rugby game in the Philippines prior to the event. Mind you there wasn't an article in The Jakarta Post to report on the result of the match. Which is understandable because WE KICKED THEIR BEHINDS!!!! But again this is an article providing insight into Indonesian Rugby.

But atleast they got an article the PRFU team even being the host country and winner got no local press and it was an offifial SEA games site sport.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydet...id=20051123.H01

National rugby team going places

Sports News - November 23, 2005

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The national "White Rhinos" charge into rugby union history next week, becoming the first all-national team to play a series of matches in the Philippines.

The matches, held as an exhibition during the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games from Nov. 27-Dec. 5, could lead to it becoming an official medal sport by 2007. The new Rhino emblem, the national captain and the run-on team will be introduced at a fundraising dinner at Aphrodite Club in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Saturday night. The dinner is open to the public at a cost of Rp 200,000 per person.

"This is an enormous honor and obviously a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these players to become the first team of Indonesians to represent their nation," Indonesian Development Rugby (IDR) spokesman Geoffrey Atkinson said in a release.

"Outside soccer, rugby is the biggest football code in the world and the past 12 months has seen an explosion of interest in the game at a local level. Our men may lack the experience of some of the other sides in the region that have been playing together for years, but they are determined and have been training hard."

The 16-man squad from Jakarta, Papua, Kalimantan and Maluku go through an intensive training camp at Senayan in Jakarta this week under a Bahasa speaking coach from Singapore. The 7-a-side series in the Philippines will be a curtain-raiser to the SEA Games.

Saturday night's fundraiser also sees the New Zealand All Blacks try and create their own history as they go for the final leg of a European Grand Slam in a televised match against Scotland.

The Rhinos head for the Philippines with the full support of National Sports Council; Indonesia has already received "observer status" from the International Rugby Board and two months ago applied for full recognition.

"We hope this tournament will spark interest in other Indonesian provinces so we can soon be fully recognized at an international level," Atkinson added.

The squad was selected in Bali last month after an annual international 10-a-side tournament which went ahead despite the second Bali bombings.

The Jakarta Bantengs -- in their first year in the competition against sides from Singapore, Australia, Taipei and Guam -- won the IDR runner's-up plate. The same weekend, the first 12 Indonesians received Level 1 Coaching Accreditation through a course run by representatives of Singapore Rugby Union.

"With 220 million people in Indonesia, we have the potential to be the best in Asia," Atkinson said. "But we have to spread the game to every corner of the country. We have to introduce rugby at junior and school levels -- this is the only way to grow. We are continuously on the lookout for people interested in expanding the code and new sponsorship is vital."

IDR receives financial backing from multinational construction company Thiess and Digital 1, part of the KabelVision Network, but the game still has a way to go here.

"In Singapore, Thailand and other Asian countries, where rugby has been established for more than a decade, the game is run by full-time professionals -- which include coaching and administrative staff working off multimillion dollar budgets. We would like to head down the same path as Singapore," Atkinson said.

"In a decade they have become an Asian rugby force behind Japan and Korea. But, like us, they started with very little."

[cappelan]

Indonesian Rugby report on their SEA Rugby 7s game performance against the Philippines, NOTE THEY GOT THE SCORE WRONG IT WAS 32-5.

http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailsports...1210.I01&irec=0

December 10, 2005

Indonesian rugby flag flies the flag in international debut

Geoffrey Atkinson, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Indonesia is set to be awarded full membership in the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) following a historic silver-medal performance in the exhibition games played in conjunction with the 23rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Manila last weekend.

It was the first time a full national team has represented Indonesia, and also the first full international to be played on Philippine soil.

"This is a great honor and a giant step forward for Indonesian rugby," said Indonesian Development Rugby (IDR) president Andrew Nugroho on his return from the seven-a-side tournament in Manila. "It reflects the hard work of the committee and the dedication of our Indonesian players whose efforts on the field have made all this possible. We are extremely proud of them."

Indonesia's ARFU status will be ratified at the All-Asian body's annual meeting in Lahore, Pakistan, next week and comes less than two years after Indonesian Development Rugby (IDR) was formed in Jakarta. The Lahore meeting will be attended by IDR secretary Bill Ryan.

The Philippine exhibition tournament -- which brought together 12 teams from around the region -- is expected to see rugby football receive official SEA Games status before 2007 in Thailand.

"We are hopeful as a full national team that we will be in the medal running," Andrew said.

Only Indonesia and the Philippines managed to field full national sides last weekend. Both Singapore and Macau had entered national teams, but where made up predominantly by expatriate players. The tournament was won by Borneo who fielded six, full-time rugby professionals from Fiji in the finals. They beat the Singapore Barbarians 50-5.

In the national final the Philippines beat Indonesia 27-5. The 16-man Indonesian squad had players from West Irian, Jakarta, Kalimantan and North Maluku. All players received field time in the five matches played on the weekend.

"Bringing together players from all over Indonesia is our major challenge," said Andrew. "We are trying to establish regional competitions in as many provinces as possible and concentrate on rugby at school and junior levels."

All of this will take funding and manpower.

"Indonesia has a mighty rugby nursery -- the trick for us will be establishing teams, providing coaching and facilities all over the nation and then gathering them together under one umbrella for national matches," Andrew said.

"The vast distances and costs of air travel and accommodation mean we have a lot to work on." Indonesian rugby is an amateur organization run by a committee that donates its time for free.

They are sponsored by multinational construction company Thiess and the Kabelvision cable network.

With acceptance to the ARFU, Indonesia is expected to form the Indonesia Rugby Football Union (IRFU) now operating under the IDR banner. The IDR will continue to assist with development of national players and juniors, but the IRFU will take over full responsibility for the running of the game in Indonesia.

"We are now in a league of nations where rugby is largely administered and coached by full-time professionals from around the globe," Andrew said. "We are hoping businesses and individuals in Indonesia will be part of our growing support base. It's a big challenge but it's a challenge we are looking forward to."

Indonesia's next major international is expected to be at the 2006 Asia Rugby Championships in Sri Lanka.

[cappelan]

MALAYSIAN perspective of the SEA Games Rugby 7s tournament (their team SRC Borneo Eagles won the overall tournament, Philippines won the International component of the tournament):

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=38778

M'sia target Rugby 7s Sea Games crown in Manila

03 December, 2005

Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia, powered by Sabah ruggers, are looking to scalp the Southeast Asia crown when they square off with the region's best in Manila, Saturday. Though only a demo sport at the ongoing 23rd Sea Games, the two-day rugby sevens tournament has attracted top-flight teams.

Malaysia are represented by SRU Borneo Eagles, a team formed in Sandakan under the Sabah Rugby Union banner.

Team manager K.H Tan said they have their sights trained on the overall title which will crown them as Southeast Asia's rugby powerhouse.

"That is why our target is no less than the trophy," he said, during a friendly match against a local team here on Thursday evening.

For that reason, SRU Borneo Eagles have roped in top state and also Fijian players to help them win the crown.

"We have been training over the last two weeks in Sandakan," he said, adding that all the players are ready to wage their best on the pitch.

"The players have also had the match-readiness they need as they competed in the Agong's Cup and also the Singapore Rugby Tournament last month.

Tan further said three categories will be played in the tournament, that is, Pool A1, Pool A2 and Pool B. "Malaysia have been placed in Pool A2 with Sri Lanka, Manila Nomads and Alabang Eagles. Pool A2 is categorised as the International Representative Teams (invited).

"As for the Pool A1 it is for national teams while Pool B is for local teams," he said.

"We will be playing 18 round-robin games and only the best will get the top rating and be crowned as the tournament's champion," he added.

For the meet, SRU Borneo Eagles will be represented by Tan Kah Hock, Apenisa Vasutoga, Simeli Kurisavulevu, Kiniviliame Tanaulucavu, Lee Wei Ming, Mohd. Azli Ibrahim, Ardy Affendy Mohd Arriffin, Mitchelle Mosikul, Lee Wei Khiong, Shaun Christopher Nain, Jonathan Tan, Viliame Veto Tuinivanua, Ratu Penaia Kanatabatu Tuqiri, Nacani Seniu, Jone Bole Tuquri.

The tournament will also feature teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Macau, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Manila Nomads, Alabang Eagles, MAAP, Makati Chiefs, Philippines Air Force and Cebu City RFC.

[cappelan]

SOUTH EAST ASIAN GAMES RUGBY 7’s: PRFU REPORT

PHILIPPINE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

SOUTH EAST ASIAN GAMES RUGBY 7’S

December 2005

The SEA GAMES RUGBY SEVENS TOURNAMENT had a fairy tale ending for its Hosts as the first-ever, All-Filipino 7’s Rugby Team won the Gold Medal. The tournament , held on 3-4 December 2005, was a 2-DAY EVENT open to all National, Representative and Club teams around Asia.

The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) was given recognition by the Philippine Olympic Committee to put on a 7's Rugby Tournament as a Site Sport (i.e. demonstration sport) as part of the South East Asian Games. This was the first time rugby had been included in the SEA Games. Rugby is part of the Commonwealth games and the Asian Games (next held in Doha in 2006). This was a major coup for the PRFU, coming close on the heels of the unsuccessful bid to get Rugby 7’s into the Olympics. The event was organized by the PRFU and hosted at Nomads Sports Club, Manila which is well know for its International Manila 10’s Tournament every March – previously described on ESPN Star Sports Rugby Show as “the best social rugby 10’s tournament in the Worldâ€Â.

It was a competition within a competition as the full National sides competed for the SEA Games Gold medals and every team competed for overall honors in the Cup, Plate and Bowl Championships. Under SEA Games rules to qualify as a National side all team members must be nationals of the country, or have at least one indigenous parent. As a result, both the Philippines and Indonesia fielded full all-national teams for the first time in history. IRB rules for national representation are 3 year’s residency and other overseas teams competed in the overall competition on that basis but were not eligible for the SEA games medals. It had been expected that Singapore and Sri Lanka would also participate in the SEA Games competition but the Singapore RFU had problems with funding due to depletion of its funds and Sri Lanka had its major sponsor pull out. Fortunately, Singapore Barbarians stepped into the breech to represent Singapore and also Macau brought a strong side – ultimately winning the Plate. In addition to these, there were 6 Philippine Club teams - including Nomads, Alabang Eagles, Makati Chiefs, MAAP, Rest of the World (i.e. Nomads B) and the newest kids on the block, Cebu City RFC.

The tournament featured all types of rugby and was a fantastic showcase to support the development efforts of the PRFU. The tournament included:

a.. Men's 7-A-Side Rugby (12 Teams)

b.. Schoolboy 10-A-Side Rugby (Under 19's - full contact)

c.. Women's Touch Rugby (Open to all age groups)

d.. Junior Touch Rugby (Age range 6 - 14)

Saturday featured Men's 7's Round Robin Games in pools of 4 and also schoolboy 10’s rugby + six Junior Touch teams (6-a-side) featuring teams from Nomads (A&B), Clark Rotary Juniors (A&B), British School Manila, European International School. Sunday featured the Men’s 7's Quarter Finals, Semi-Finals and Finals and Women's Touch.

The biggest surprise of the weekend was the very strong showing by the Sandakan Borneo Eagles team which, in addition to the Malaysians, featured a number of Fijian players who are Rugby Development officers in Malaysia and play for Sandakan. It was a joy to watch them play – and this time close up instead of from the lofty heights of the South Stand of the HK 7’s. They looked fantastic as they cruised thro the round robin games in pool A2 on Saturday playing open running rugby which regularly featured their huge 6’-4â€Â, 200 lb, Nr 3 – who despite his size and bulk regularly sidestepped like a 5’ 6â€Â, 100lb scrum half.

Likewise, in Pool A1 Singapore Barbarians played controlled, textbook 7’s rugby – frequently slowing the game down to wait for the opening, or pushing the ball all the way out to their fast Singaporean winger who would make 20 yards then stop on a sixpence before being tackled and move the ball back in the other direction. The local teams – Nomads, Alabang Eagles and ROW - were enjoying the high level of competition and raising their standards to match.

Competition was no less intense in Pool B where Cebu was playing its first major tournament in its short (4 month) history. The MAAP (Maritime Academy of Asia Pacific) and Philippine Air Force (also in only their second tournament – first being the Fat Boy 10’s in August 2005) fielded all-Filipino teams. The Makati Chiefs were also in with a fighting chance having a mixed expat and Filipino team with MAAP college graduates).

Saturday afternoon saw the SEA Games Final between the Philippines and Indonesia. It started of with a parade, photocall line up and singing of each country’s national anthems. The Philippines started off strongly with 16 yr old student Mike O’Friel (Filipina mother & American father) taking first blood. The Letts brothers, Mike & Jake (Filipino – Australians) who had flown up from Sydney to join the squad, provided strong direction to the team and were frequently a focal point of the attacks. The final score was 32-5 in favor of the Philippines. They were very proud that night at the awards ceremony to receive their Gold Medals and reap the major prize in a first ever showing for an all-Filipino National team

The quarter finals on Sunday were the start of the playoffs, with teams ranked based on their performances during Saturday. Macau went into the Plate after losing to the Philippines in the quarters but went on to beat the Rest of the World/Nomads B in the Plate Finals.

In the Cup Championship the highlight for the Nomads hosts was taking the first points off the Singapore Barbarians in the Cup semi-finals and playing a controlled first half with a strong defensive game that had them leading 7 – 5 at half time. The Babas skills and fitness came on strong in the second half eventually winning 35 -7. The Sandakan Borneo Eagles turned up the heat and beat the Philippines in their semi final clash. That put the Babas in the Cup Finals against the Sandakan Borneo Eagles.

The Cup Final was a great game to watch – though Ben Wheeler commented afterwards that it wasn’t half as much fun when you were playing, seeing the Sandakan’s Fijian brick wall coming at you like a steam train. As before, the Fijians played open, individualistic, running rugby but really pulled out all the stops and made it obvious that they were just cruising in their earlier games. The Babas played very well, keeping to their controlled game plan, but they did not have an answer to Sandakan. Final score was 65-5.

Final results

SEA Games Gold Medal Finals – Philippines 32 - Indonesia 5

Cup Championship – Sandakan Borneo Eagles 65 - Singapore Barbarians 5

Plate Championship – Macau 40 – Rest of the World/Nomads B 12

Bowl Championship – MAAP 40 – Cebu 12