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.
For the second consecutive year, the Philippine Barbarians (PRFU North America) braved the cold weather of the prestigious New York Sevens and not only walked away with the Premiere Division Bowl Championship, but gave one of the top Sevens sides in the United States a run for its money.
Coached by Philippine Nat’l Team player Austin Dacanay and Retired Nat’l Team player Clay Luraschi, the Barbarians featured a core of three young and very talented Filipino players. A combination of the recently-capped Kenny Stern, Stanford University’s Daniel Ibarra and University of British Columbia’s Rain De Guzman kept the player’s and fan’s attention all day.
“It’s truly amazing how we just keep uncovering these talented Filipino players all over the world,” said Luraschi. “Our National Team has a very bright future.”
The climax came when heavily-favored North Virginia RFC (NOVA), the eventual tourney champions, stepped onto the pitch with the likes of Filimoni Botitu (Fiji Nat’l Team), Thretton Palamo (U.S. Nat’l Team), PJ Komomgnan (U.S. Nat’l Team) and many more previously capped players.
With no fear, the Barbarians engaged in a back and forth affair with NOVA through the first half that included standout tries by Stern and Ibarra. Nova eventually pulled away, but it was not an easy win for one of top U.S. teams.
The Bowl Championship game, which saw the Barbos handle a select-side from New England, saw more great play from last returners Roderigus Ceasar, Adil Manari and newcomers Seth Kolkas (Captain), Matt McGinnis and Neal Champ.
The Barbarians, which missed qualifying for the 2010 USA Championships by just one try, was also fueled by returners Vincent Petisme, Cheung Kan and Kimani Davis.
“Today’s play was absolutely outstanding as the Barbarians continue to put PRFU on the map in North America,” concluded Dacanay.
Standing (L-R): Dacanay (Phil Nat’l Team), *De Guzman (U. of British Columbia), Stern (Phil Nat’l Team), McGinnis (Tampa Krewe), Kolkas (Life Univ.),
Davis (Village Lions), Luraschi (Ret. Phil Nat’l Team) Kneeling (L-R): * Petisme (Eastside RFC), Manari (Village Lions via Morocco), Champ (Village Lions via England), *Ibarra (Stanford Univ.), Ceasar (Atlanta Renegades) * = Player of Philippine Heritage
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.
