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.
The Manila 10’s celebrated the 20th anniversary of the tournament and did it with style with the 2009 tournament being touted as one of the most successful campaigns in the 20 year history of the Manila 10’s with 32 teams, a lush green pitch, 12 corporate stands, great food and plenty of vocal supporters, the tournament was a huge success.
It all started at the Manila 10’s Rugby Lunch on Friday with Justin “Sambo” Sampson hosting two Rugby Legends, the most capped Wallaby hooker, Jeremy Paul, and the most capped All Blacks Center , Frank Bunce. Both celebrities humored the capacity crowd with the sorted stories from their rugby careers and various tours. Both Legends thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and everyone involved were suitably impressed with the lunch and the general rugby social scene.
Saturday brought on the opening rounds of the four divisions Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield. A number of teams had arrived on the Friday evening and this showed with various players suffering through their first game to sober up and reclaim their playing rights as the day proceeded. At the end of the Saturday all teams were ranked into four division’s with 8 teams in each division.
Sunday opened with the knock out quarter finals and all the teams were involved. As the day wore on, 24 teams were eliminated to leave the following teams to play the division finals.
Cup
Singapore Barbarians v CS Larrikins
Plate
Pot Bellied Pigs v Taipei Baboons
Bowl
Flying Elvises v Wagga Wagga Waratahs
Shield
Alabang Ibons v Brisbane Vulgarians
The finals proved to be very close and after ten years of competing to win the Manila 10’s it was the Larrikins who overwhelmed a tenacious Barbarian team to win the Cup (17-10)
The Pot Bellied Pigs rallied to knock off the Taipei Baboons in the Plate Final (19-14).
The Flying Elvises stormed home to beat the Wagga Wagga Waratahs (21-10).
Finally it was the local Filipinos team the Alabang Ibons who were victorious over the Brisbane Vulgarians by 17-5 to win the Shield.
The general feedback and feelings from players, supporters, sponsors and the Nomads officials was very positive and everyone praised the efforts of all those involved to yet again host “ The Best Social Rugby 10’s Tournament In Asia”.
Looking forward to 2010, when the Nomads will once again start another 20 year campaign of Manila 10’s history.
PRFU National Teams
Men's Fifteens [15s]
Men's Sevens [7s]
Under Twentys [20s]
PRFU Ladies and Junior Teams
Ladies Touch Rugby Football
Juniors Touch Rugby Football
PRFU Philippine Extinct Volcanoes
Philippine Extinct Volcanoes
Sons of Lapu Lapu
FILIPINO RUGBY TWO BLUES
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.
