NATIONAL COACH AND NUMBER 2 VISIT QUEENSLAND REDS TRAINING CAMP

Philippines National Men’s Team Coach, Matt Cullen and current Philippines National Player, Mike Duhig were recently invited to attend a Queensland Reds Rugby Union Training Camp to observe and discuss current training techniques and methods that are being conducted at the elite Super 14’s level.

The Queensland Reds had just returned from their pre-season tour of Europe and entered a week long intensive training camp at a coastal resort at Kingscliffe, Australia. It was with pleasure that the Philippines Rugby Football Union were invited to attend the training camp and Matt and Mike set out from Brisbane to join the camp at the Northern N.S.W. beach resort.

Whilst there The Philippines Team National Coach was able to meet with the Queensland Reds coaching Staff and discuss current training methods and techniques being introduced at the state level.

Meanwhile, as a Nudgee College Graduate and current Brothers Rugby Union Club player, Mike Duhig already knew a number of the Queensland players and trainers. The national player was able to catch up with some old rugby mates and meet the current Queensland squad. Both Philippines representatives were able to hold discussions and then attend and watch a Reds Training session.

In addition, National Coach Matt Cullen also caught up with a former undergraduate from his days of coaching Rugby Union at St. John’s College in Melbourne, where a player by the name of Digby Ione was discovered as a 14 year old, and was selected in the Australian U/15 team that year.

To top off a productive day, the Queensland Reds coaching staff showed their interest in supporting and developing the sport of Rugby Union in the Philippines by donating signed Wallaby’s and Queensland Reds jerseys that will be auctioned at this year’s Manila 10’s Lunch.

Both Mike and Matt certainly relished the opportunity of attending the Reds Training Camp and came away with positive ideas for running a successful and professional National Team Training Camp before this year’s Asian Five Nations Tournament in Manila from June 30th – July 5th.

Rain or Shine onto the Kiama Rugby 7s

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.