Official PRFU Referee and dedicated supporter Phil "the stinger" Gittus

Over the last decade, the PRFU can be thankful for a number of great supporters and sponsors who have generously given up their time, resources and finances to ensure that the development of Rugby Union has continued to grow here in the Philippines. Two of these people are the father-and-son combination of Dave and Phil Gittus.

Dave Gittus lives in Newport, England and has been a lifelong supporter of the Newport (Salop) Rugby Union Club that play in the Midlands regional competition in England. Dave has a passion for supporting and promoting Rugby Union and when his son Phil moved to the Philippines and became involved in the PRFU, Dave asked, “How can I help?”

One of the annual PRFU main fundraising events is the Manila 10s Lunch Auction and over the last decade, Dave has journeyed far beyond the Newport Rugby Club to ask famous English International Rugby Players to sign jerseys and shirts to donate to the PRFU Auction. Dave has travelled to the Philippines to visit his son’s family and has always taken a keen interest in the Development of juniors. Most recently, Dave visited the Tuloy Foundation and witnessed firsthand how the PRFU were conducting coaching clinics with up to 40 orphans.

Dave was inspired by what he saw. He returned to Newport England on a mission to help the orphans in the Philippines learn the sport that he has loved all his life. Dave recently sent a donation of Php14000 to the Duyan ni Maria Orphanage and has been collecting Rugby kit from a range of local junior clubs that he will send over to kit out the PRFU orphan teams, that include Bahay Bata, Tuloy and the Duyan ni Maria Orphanage.

Not to be outdone by his father, Phillip (as his dad calls him) has worked above and beyond the call of duty at all levels to ensure the sport of Rugby Union excels in this country. Phil was initially based at Nomads Rugby Club and Captained the Nomads Rugby Team. Later, Phil became an active member of the PRFU Board and was instrumental in helping the PRFU becoming both associate and finally full members of the IRB.

PRFU Service Awardee, Dave Gittus

Phil’s passion for Rugby certainly did not stop at the board room and he continually represented the PRFU in various roles, from National Team Manager (2005-2008), National Team Coach (U/20s, Men’s) and National Team Player v Guam in 2007 and scored a try on debut and has finished this distinguished career by being elected the PRFU A5N representative Referee in 2009.

Both Phil and Dave have given generously to ensure the Rugby Union has thrived in the Philippines and the PRFU recently acknowledged Dave Gittus with a Service Award as appreciation for his contributions to the PRFU. I am certain that Phil will strive to become equal with Dave and be a recipient of a PRFU award in the near future.

To the Father-and-Son combination of Dave and Phil Gittus, the PRFU forward a sincere heartfelt thank you for all your efforts in developing Rugby Union in the Philippines over the decade.