Philippines Rugby Gains Full IRB Membership

The Philippines Rugby Football Union were granted full IRB membership at the IRB council Meeting that was conducted in Ireland on Tuesday, 25 November 2008.

This is the end result of two years as an IRB associate member and the PRFU’s dilgence in working to successfully meet all the IRB criteria to apply to become
full members. Over the last four years, the Philippine national rugby union teams have set exceptionally high standards in international competitions in the men’s 15s, men’s 7s and under-20 divisions. The successes of these national teams has enabled the sport of Rugby Union to gain full recognition by both the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission. In particular, the Philippine National Men’s 7s team who won the Silver Medal at the last South East Asian Games and the Men’s 15s National Team winning elevation to the Division 3 Category of the A5 Nations, have allowed the sport of rugby union to become a nationally accredited
sport. Recently the Philippines also hosted the Division 2 Asian Rugby Football Union under-20s Tournament here in Manila and have applied to host the Division 3 A5 Nations International Men’s Tournament in July 2009.

The sport of Rugby Football Union definitely has the potential to grow and succeed
here in the Philippines and the elevation to full IRB membership status will now allow the PRFU to ensure that Rugby Football Union can be developed at all levels of the community, particularly focusing on the junior divisions and the Philippine National Military and Police Forces. National Team Coach Matt Cullen truly believes that the Philippines can and will be successful in the sport of Rugby Football Union and explains that Filipinos are gifted at this sport because they possess natural talents including speed, agility, coordination, strength, endurance and a unique sense of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Gaining full membership to the IRB now allows the PRFU to focus on developing the sport of Rugby Football Union throughout the Philippines. This will aid in implementing training programs, purchasing equipment and kit , running educational courses and staging tournaments to help promote the sport of Rugby Football Union to reach new heights.

The success of gaining full membership to the IRB is the culmination of eight
years of dedicated work by all members involved in the PRFU who have generously
given their time, efforts and sometimes even their bodies to promote, play and develop the sport of Rugby Football Union here in the Philippines. There are a number of unsung heroes who have had a hand in this process and the PRFU truly appreciates all that has been done, both on and off the field, by all members of the Filipino Rugby Football Union community. Without your contributions we certainly could not have achieved this milestone.

Christmas has come early in the Philippines for the PRFU and we wish everyone
all the best for the Holiday Season.

Know that the PRFU will hit the ground running, so start training and we’ll see
you on the pitch in 2009.

CCRFC Calendar

The Cebu Dragons just released their calendar for 2009, and there's a lot of rugby on the cards.

15's tours from Olney RFC (UK) and the Easts Toothless Tigers (Brisbane), should be some exciting matches, but the highlight has to be the continuation of the Sinulog 10's Rugby Festival scheduled for April 25 at the Aboitiz Sports Complex in North Reclamation Area Cebu.

The club also plans to attend all major local tournaments and to have more players involved in the Asian 5 Nations Division 3 Tournament to be played in Manila, and the U19's ARFU Tournament in Hong Kong.

Another highlight is the recent acceptance of the PRFU as a full IRB member, which means that a contact women's program is also on the cards.

If you're interested to join contact the club liaison at ceburugby@yahoo.com.

Go the Dragons!!!

North Vs. South Rugby Challenge

South Claims The Honors in Inaugural Clash


Cebu International School played host to an emotional affair over the weekend, with the South taking home the trophy in the first Region of Origin match played in the Philippines.

With a squad made up of veteran players from mostly the Nomads rugby club, the North came to Cebu confident in the fact that they had never lost to a team from the south. A bit short on numbers, but by no means lacking in rugby know how, they looked to dominate the game up front, and keep the ball out of the hands of the southerners backline. In a classic match of contrasting styles, it was the South who came away victorious, scoring 5 tries to the North’s 2.

This fixture is slated as an annual event, and will be a great platform from which to prepare for the annual mid-year international season. With the game growing fast in the Visayas, the Region of Origin match is the perfect showcase for young talent, and will be a source of invaluable playing experience for up and coming ruggers in the years to come.

Asian Nations Rugby

The Asian 5 Nations has been a big step forward for rugby in the region and has gained some much-needed exposure for the sport in the region.

Japan once again proved that they are just way ahead of anyone else at this point in time, but i do believe the gap is narrowing.

As you may, or may not know, Div. 2 of the tournament will conclude in Bangkok on Saturday, June 14. The final will be played between top-seed Malaysia and second seed Thailand, with the winner moving up to Div. 1 next year and keeping their dreams of a World Cup berth in 2011 alive. The 3rd/4th place playoff will be decided between India and Pakistan, with not much on the line, this will be more of a grudge match than anything else, and I'm sure the two countries have many differences to work out.

Whilst i am a big supporter of the tournament, i can't help saying that there is a major glitch in their promotion and relegation strategy. Relegation and promotion only exists in the top 3 divisions, whereas the 4 regional competitions, which include twelve teams (including the Philippines) currently have no chance of breaking into Div. 2 and proving themselves. This is particularly tough for the Philippines, as we played both Pakistan and India in the years prior to the competition and while defeated were not outclassed by any stretch. With developing teams like this, there needs to be some kind of carrot offered by the ARFU to motivate them to get better and eventually move up the ranks and challenge for a spot in Div. 2. Until this is devised, i will stand firm on the ideal that this tournament is ultimately flawed, and while closing the talent gap between the higher ranked teams, will leave a vast canyon between the teams playing in the Division competitions and those playing in the regional ones.

Philippine rugby is very much on the rise, a silver medal in the recently concluded SEA Games in Thailand, where we beat Malaysia en route to the final, and a core group of young, talented players, means that we are only going to get better and aim for bigger and brighter things. The team will come together within the next fortnight to train and prepare for the regional tourney against Guam and Brunei in Guam. A competition that we must win convincingly to attract the attention of the ARFU to the need to develop a promotion and relegation system between Div. 2 and the regional games.

So, from this very staunch Volcanoes supporter, i want to say to all the boys going to Guam --- give 'em hell lads...

The Low Flying Dragons Want More Punishment

The third installment of the Low Flying Dragons against the Black Dragons will take place this Sunday (June 1) at Camp Lapu-Lapu parade grounds in Lahug, Cebu. The Black Dragons have taken the first two games, but the Low-Flyers are getting antsy and looking for revenge. Their recently appointed "captain" has resorted to hip-hop intimidation for assistance. See his latest e-mail and the lineup for the low-flying drag-queens:


Dear High Flyin dragons

Here comes the pain

We're the Low Flyin dragons, we got muscle and rhymes,
U're gonna be chasing us round the field at lapu 2 times,
No mo messin round, no mo for a while;
See u at the game, clock's deuce on the dial

High fliers, bayot buyers, dirt riders, bounce off the floor,
You about to front the low flyin gangsta hardcore,
We'll be pumpin those boots like V8 pistons,
Goin through Dragons like lions through Christians,
Stick em up mofo's! we come for whats ours,
we gonna Rain down tries like Cebu May showers,

Light that shit up, set the field on fire,
Takin guys down, like a priest in a choir,
So drop 10 extra joss, u'll need the enhancers,
We"ll be turnin more tricks than the lonestar dancers,
We'll be hearin ya screams and hearin ya moans
Coz we packin more tackle than John C Holmes

We're the big rugby pimps, for all to see,
ur skills came with the burgers from jollibee,
If u cant dig our moves, u must be retarded
assassins on the scene like a Dresden bombardment
So read up well, recognize our PimP names
Scope ya On Sunday and ya better bring ur game!


Pimps on Parade

Manager: Diamondtrim T. Dogg North

Referee: Funk Master Phil Fresh

Props: Treacherous D
Macktastic Bob Shizzle

Hooker: Gfunk Dunc

Locks: Papa Delmore Dazzle
Magical Mike Loco Tyler

Scrum half: Suede Dave Tickle

Fly Half: Pimptastic

Inside centre: Vicious Craig Von Flavour

Center: Snake Eyes Caeser Squeeze

Wing: Big Playa Jarman Glide


Supersubs:Forwards
Trick Tickler Slim Simon,
Bishop Dave M Rock,
White Chocolate Trey Slick,
Devious Honey Booth Dogg,
Deacon Dr. Geoff Flex

Backs: Delicious Johnny G,
Ghetto Fab Roland Beautiful