Philippine Rugby Stalwart Phil “Stinger” Gittus won his first cap for the Philippines National Men’s Rugby Team in 2008 and scored a try on debut. In the space of 12 months, he has managed to move from being a marauding, try scoring prop to being selected as a Referee on the Asian Five Nations Referees Panel.

Phil has had a colorful career as a rugby player, stemming from the days of the harsh winters of his youthful days in England, where he learnt that Rugby Union was a man’s game and that ice on a frozen lake does break when your coach tells you to place your head in the pond. Phil was able to move on from those frosty and sometimes humiliating playing days and found that playing in the tropical weather with the Ko Sumai Simians, to be a much more palatable. He then went on to Captain the 1999 Nomads to victory in the Manila 10’s and recently culminated his stellar Rugby career with his test debut for the Philippines against Guam in 2008.

A prop from the “old school” style of rugby, ‘Stinger’ has never shied away from a scrum, ruck or maul until one memorable day, whilst wading in ankle deep water in between games at the Phuket 10’s he was ‘stung’ by a very ferocious “JELLY FISH”

It was at this moment that “stinger” started to change his attitude to the game of Rugby and we now see the results of a fatal injury. Yes, he has become a top level referee.

The Philippine Rugby Football Union are proud to announce that the first local Philippine referee, Mr. Phil Gittus will represent the PRFU as an Asian Five Nations Referee. This is a tribute to a Rugby gentleman (Gentle?) who has devoted his time, body and energy to the sport of Rugby Union.

Phil also currently runs a web-based company called “Rugby in Asia” (www.rugbyinasia.com) which promotes and reports on all rugby union events in Asia and around the world.

Well done Phil, the Rugby community in the Philippines, thank you for all your efforts to promote, play, coach, report and now referee the sport of rugby union throughout the Philippines and Asia.