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MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Volcanoes national Rugby team once again proved that they are a force to be reckoned with in Asia as they notched major feats throughout 2013.
For one, the Men’s 15s team finished the year with a ranking of 4th in Asia to remain in the Asian 5 Nations Premier Division for 2014. They achieved this with an emphatic win over the United Arab Emirates at Rizal Memorial Stadium in May 2013, winning the relegation game by 24–8.
This sets the scene for a competitive 2014 series where the Volcanoes will battle to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup in London. The Philippines maintains its rank at #57 (out of 118 countries) in the International Rugby Board rankings.
Meanwhile, the National Men’s 7s team beat the odds to qualify for the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow in June 2013–the premier Rugby Sevens competition among the top 24 teams in the world. Being the first Philippine team to qualify for a World Cup in over 50 years, the achievement earned the team the moniker of “History Boys” from no less than the International Rugby Board.
In addition, the Men’s 7s team also competed in the Asian Sevens Series, which was composed of tournaments in Malaysia, Thailand, India and Singapore where they emerged Plate Champions in Thailand and India.
The Volcanoes hope to maintain this momentum leading up to the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, where Rugby Sevens is a featured sport.
The Philippine Rugby Football Union was also awarded the Asian Rugby Football Union “Development Award” for 2014 in recognition of the Union’s efforts to promote and develop the sport of Rugby in the Philippines.
The Volcanoes’ rise to the top levels of Rugby Union has been an amazing feat for a group of young Filipino players who have had to cover their own travel expenses to represent the country in a sport that is not a traditionally played and popular with the Filipino community. Looking ahead, the team will further strive to become a household name as they work to grow the sport with new Rugby clubs in Cebu, Davao and Cagayan de Oro.
Watch the highlights of what has been a proud and productive year for the Philippine Volcanoes:
– Rappler.com
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