Rugby in the Philippines

The 2004-2005 season started last August with the Fat Boy 10’s. The event was organized by the Pot Belly Pigs of Hong Kong with the support and assistance of the PRFU. The whole event raised a lot of money for the Bahay Bata orphanage (and its junior rugby team) and the PRFU Rugby Development Fund and it is expected that this year’s tournament (August 2005) will raise even more funding In November 2004 we had the inaugural PRFU 15-A-Side League and Championship Cup. This was played on a home and away basis over a period of two and a half months. All participants in the League played enthusiastically in order to be selected for the (first) Philippines National Team (IRB eligibility). The first National Game was on 11 December against a “Select� Philippines Barbarians side and the National team won. The PRFU organized a 10-A-Side League for all local teams in January – February 2005 as a lead up to the Alabang 10’s and the Manila 10’s. In the 2004-2005 season there were visiting tours from Hong Kong University RFC and the Chinese Development team from Kowloon RFC. We are very happy to say that the Philippines won both games. Also, we had visiting teams from Guam (Junior's, Women’s and Senior's) to participate in our Mini-World Cup 7’s Tournament last April. This season (just started), we have already organized a visiting tour by HK Valley 1st Team as a pre-season warm up game for them, Macau will also tour here and others will be organized thro’ the season. The PRFU, with Cathay Pacific Airways sponsorship, was able to organize a tour for two Philippines Representative Teams to Hong Kong in March 2005 to play in the Kowloon 10's Rugbyfest; one of these teams got to the finals, only to be beaten by the California Pelicans. The PRFU also assisted several Filipino players to join the Alabang Eagles and Nomads at the Phuket 10’s in Thailand in May 2005 to gain further international experience.