Rain or Shine onto the Kiama Rugby 7's

Current Philippine Rugby Union International Rupert Zappia quipped to another team mate Fred Colina on Facebook “you should ask Erick to bring cups of tea to training today instead of ice water.”

For the last two weeks 20 Filipino-heritage Rugby players have been training for the February 28, Kiama Rugby 7s. The commitment shown by these young men has been admirable, with all being proud to represent the Philippines, like Carlo Ocampo a rugby league player who said “it feels great to represent my country.”

From 16 year olds Ned Stephenson and Ben Saunders to 35 year old Marcus Casaclang all have trained in 37 degree plus heat to wet, rainy Autumn temperatures, with the players sweating in singlets and shorts one week and freezing in tracksuits the next. So not even the variable weather that global warming can produce has hindered the commitment and drive these young men have to represent the Philippines.

With our sponsors Focused Business Solutions Pty Ltd and RJH Consultancy providing the financial support for this squad, it has allowed the PRFU’s National Rugby 7s coach Rick Hartley to oversee coaches Michael Letts, the Warringah RFUC Club Captain and Philippines National Rugby Union Captain and Australian-Samoa Head coach Alan Macdonald to focus on the squad and hone their rugby skills against some of Australia’s premier Rugby Union clubs with the team coming up against Manly RFUC in one of their opening pool games.

The players are in under no illusion of winning the tournament in their inaugural appearance at this prestigious Rugby 7s event, but all are willing to give their all for the Philippines. With the players realizing that this tournament is a stepping stone to winning a gold medal for the Philippines at the 25th South East Asian games this December in Laos should rugby 7s be included, and the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November 2010 it is the start of preparing the Philippines national rugby 7s team for better things to come.