The Philippine Rugby Football Union are committed to developing the sport of Rugby Football Union throughout the Philippines and 2009 stands as a productive year with the National Coach Matt Cullen
To welcome 2009, the PRFU Board and its member-clubs have decided to expand and step-up their efforts in taking the Sport of Rugby Union to the underprivileged youth in orphanages and charitable foundations.
Written by: Matt Cullen
Date: Monday, 15 December 2008
The Philippine Rugby Football Union are committed to developing the sport of Rugby Football Union throughout the Philippines and 2009 stands as a productive year with the National Coach Matt Cullen and Development Officer “Ahlo” Carlito Abono beginning the year with a new focus on introducing Rugby Development programs at two Philippine National Police Academies and the Philippine Military Forces.
Development programs will begin in earnest at two PNPA academies, one in Cavite and the other in Olongapo, with the focus of beginning a Police league that will include the Maritime Academy Asia Pacific. The program at the Cavite PNPA is also supported by the Alabang Eagles, and a new South Manila tri-series will begin with the PNPA Cavite, Adventist University and HMR –Envirocycle teams competing on a monthly basis.
This league will be matched in the North with a new club starting at the PNPA Olongapo. The Barretto Blues will provide coaching every week to support this new club. The Northern League which will be played at the Subic Sports Complex and will include the Barretto Blues, PNPA Olongapo and the Maritime Academy Asia Pacific.
Development is also happening in the Visayas with the Cebu Dragons leading the way. The Dragons went on a development and recruitment drive and recently held The Inaugural South v North Regional game. This was played in Cebu and the first game was won by the South (Visayas) over the North (Luzon) by 25- 10. The return match has been scheduled for May 2009 which will also became part of the National Team Selection process to choose a Men’s development squad and ultimately the Philippine National Men’s Team who will compete in the A5N Asian Rugby Union series in Manila in June 2009.
The PRFU are also hopeful of introducing the sport of Rugby Union in the Philippines Military forces and aim to follow in the footsteps other Asian countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, where up to 80% of the National Rugby Teams are recruited from the Police and Military forces.
National Coach Matt Cullen admires the courage, dedication, teamwork, fitness and attitude of the Philippine Police cadets and agrees that "The PNPA and Military Academies are the breeding grounds for future Philippine National Players, because they are based at the Academy for 4 years and enjoy learning and playing a physical, team oriented sport that also improves fitness and morale."
In addition to the Police and Military forces, the PRFU are encouraging all Rugby Union Football Clubs to sponsor a local school, University or orphanage and develop young players through a local development program, where club players attend and train the students on a regular basis with the end vision of recruiting new players to their club.
PRFU promotes Rugby Union throughout the Philippines
With the Asian International Rugby Union Season upon us current and prospective Filipino-Heritage Rugby Union Internationals are hard at work with the Parramatta Two Blues Rugby Union Club preparing for the Asian 5 Nations (A5N) Division 3 tournament being held at the University of Makati in the Philippines between the 1st and 4th of July.
Written by: Matt Cullen
