Philippines Rugby Football – History in the Making!

December: The Philippines is a country not immediately associated with Rugby Union; however, this perception is soon to change, rapidly. Rugby Union is alive and well in the Philippines, and growing fast. Development of the game has now matured to selection of the inaugural Philippines National Rugby Team. At the finals of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) 15-A-Side League on 06 November 2004 the PRFU announced the selection of the first ever Philippines National Rugby Team.

Altogether, 50 names were announced, 25 for the Senior Squad and 25 for the Development Team. All participants in the League played enthusiastically on the chance of selection to play for the Philippines Team. On 11 December the National Team will play its first game against a select ‘Barbarians’ side chosen from the players not eligible for National Squad selection. Then they will be playing their first ‘international’ game on 16 January 2005 against Hong Kong University RFC.

The proceeds of 11th December event will support the PRFU and the Springboard Foundation (who have a target to raise P1 Million, by Christmas Day 2004, to renovate and convert rooms in a Government hospital in Metro Manila into a pedia ward. They would also like to provide free medicine, beds, mattresses, side tables and medical equipment for those wards. With your help, the dream can become a reality).

The PRFU has just been admitted as a member of the International Rugby Board (IRB), the governing body for the sport worldwide, and is very satisfied with its continued success in accelerating rugby development in the Philippines. Key themes in the strategy for development of the game include: maximizing the Filipino player base, nurturing junior rugby and raising rugby’s profile throughout the Philippines.