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The Philippine Rugby Football Union has officially announced the 12-player rosters for both the Men’s and Women’s Rising Stars Teams, a pathway program into the national team. These athletes will represent the Philippines in the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Sevens, scheduled to take place at Jurong West Stadium, Singapore, on April 4-5. The Rising Stars program is a pathway program composed of local-based heritage men’s and women’s players selected from the High-Performance Program 7s (HPP 7s) of the PRFU. It aims to develop these local heritage players and provide more opportunities for them to hone their skills through international exposure to high-level matches across Southeast Asia. Philippine Rising Stars Men’s Team The following are the 12 players representing the Philippine Men’s 7s Team: John Lester Copino - Eagles RFC Raphael Barberis - Manila Nomads / NTP John Frits Copino - Eagles RFC Jovan King Jasper Masalunga - Clark Jets Fernan Tudoc - SKF Makati Mavericks Johnathan Paul Greenwood - Manila Nomads Dylan Duncan Davies - SKF Makati Mavericks Jonel Madrona - Clark Jets / NTP Ezra James Morales - Manila Nomads Richard Macroyo - Manila Nomads Connor Browne - SKF Makati Mavericks Joeben Belda - Eagles RFC The team is led by Head Coach Timothy Bweheni, Assistant Coach/Team Coordinator Alexandre Alain Herve Menard, and Physiotherapist Jun Whei Cheah.  Philippine Rising Stars Women’s Team The following are the 12 players representing the Philippine Women’s 7s Team: Rassiel Sales - SKF Makati Mavericks / NTP Sylva Tudoc - SKF Makati Mavericks / NTP Pauline Isabelle Fernandez - Manila Nomads Bhea Estacio - SKF Makati Mavericks Janin Puig - SKF Makati Mavericks / NTP Ma. Catalina Carmen Kwan - Cebu Dragons Annaliza Galvizo - Eagles RFC Allysa Mae Benosa - SKF Makati Mavericks Kristin Joyce Go - Manila Nomads Jheewel Idea - SKF Makati Mavericks Lara Jean Lara - SKF Makati Mavericks Mariah Jasmine Torio - SKF Makati Mavericks The team is led by Head Coach Angella Camille San Juan, Assistant Coach/Team Coordinator Lalaine Joyce Bacus, and Physiotherapist Megan John. Both teams have been training rigorously for this prestigious tournament, a key competition for amateur players aspiring to join the national team, against emerging rugby sevens teams in the region. As the competition draws closer, Filipino rugby fans are encouraged to show their support for the Philippine Rising Stars as they take on the challenge at the SEA 7s 2025.  About Philippine Rugby Football Union
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. PRFU oversees various rugby programs, competitions, and national teams, aiming to make rugby a major sport in the Philippines. For inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Filipino Community Rugby Day in Hong Kong Draws 150+ Domestic Helpers and Aspiring Volcanoes2/4/2025
 by Mark Villamora The 2025 Filipino Community Rugby Day turned into a massive rugby festival, drawing over 150 participants, including more than 100 touch and tag rugby players from Hong Kong's domestic helpers' community, held in HK Happy Rugby Valley Pitch on February 2. Originally planned as a Talent ID Day to identify potential players for the Maharlikan and Magandaquins program—the national pathway to the Philippine Volcanoes—the event saw an overwhelming response, prompting organizers to expand the day’s activities. The rugby festival featured open-for-all social touch games, a rugby clinic aimed at newcomers, and a dedicated talent ID session for aspiring players. Filipino heritage players from the Hong Kong China Sevens also participated, providing valuable support and inspiration for the participants. The day ended on a high note with merienda sponsored by Dara Hong Kong, alongside homemade food generously provided by the Coebergh family, creating a festive and supportive atmosphere for everyone involved.  Volcanoes Women's Head Coach facilitating the rugby clinic. Photos by Sommai Sports. Event Organization and Support The event was organized by Samantha Scott (Volcanoes 7s Women’s Head Coach), Kate Palis Stroem (Women’s Volcanoes 7s), Aljon Rae Grospe (Men’s Volcanoes 15s), and Matthew Macphearson (Men’s Volcanoes 15s), along with the dedicated volunteers from the Maharlikans. A group of passionate coaches and volunteers contributed their time and energy to make the day a success. These included:
 Participants enjoying a salo-salo with food sponsored by Dara Hong Kong and the Coebregh Family. Filipino Community Rugby Day Partners:With plans to make the Filipino Community Rugby Day an annual event, organizers are inviting volunteers, supporters, and donors to help continue growing this important initiative. Those interested in contributing their time or resources can reach out to [email protected] for further details. The community is excited about the future of the event and its potential to foster more growth and opportunities for Filipino rugby players in Hong Kong. About Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. PRFU oversees various rugby programs, competitions, and national teams, aiming to make rugby a major sport in the Philippines. For inquiries, please contact: [email protected]  Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) successfully delivered a World Rugby Level 1 First Aid in Rugby course today, equipping participants with essential first-aid skills tailored for rugby. Among the 11 attendees, most were medical professionals from the Philippine Sports Commission’s (PSC) Medical and Scientific Athlete Services (MSAS) Unit.  Led by World Rugby Educator Steph Yee, the course provided participants with hands-on training in rugby-specific injury management. Yee emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This course is a great step in strengthening our relationship with the PSC. It not only enhances their understanding of rugby-specific medical needs but also opens the door for future collaboration in supporting our sport at all levels.”
Co-delivering the course was Enrico Baron, a member of PSC’s MSAS unit, who highlighted the value of this training for their department. “As medical professionals working closely with athletes, it’s crucial to understand the specific risks and injury management strategies in different sports. This course has equipped us with the necessary tools to better support rugby players, and I see great potential for further engagement between PSC and PRFU,” Baron shared. The PRFU continues to prioritize player welfare and safety through initiatives like this, ensuring that rugby athletes in the country receive top-level medical care both on and off the field.  by Mark Villamora
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) at its Annual General Meeting (AGN) held on 10 December 2024 discussed the successes of the year, the status of progress against their strategic plan, and laid out the plans for 2025. Attended by clubs and stakeholders in person and online, they also conducted their annual elections. Ada Milby begins her 3rd term as President while Chris Moriarty and Steve Mommaerts were reelected to their 2nd terms on the Board of Trustees. Completing the Board of Trustees is Damon Freeman, a World Rugby Match Official Educator and Asia Rugby Citing Commissioner from Cebu City. With previous experience on the Brazil Rugby Union board and community engagement experience in places like Nepal, he brings direct relevant experience to enhance strategic discussions. New appointments for non-voting player representatives were also made at the ad hoc board meeting post AGM - 2024 XVs Magellan Cup vice-captain and coach David Feeney, who will represent the Men’s National Program, and 2024 Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy (AREST) vice-captain Pearl Kellie, who helped lead the team to a gold championship in Nepal. These appointments are part of PRFU’s commitment to ensure a more inclusive and effective decision-making process to better support the players. The PRFU board members who will serve the Philippine Rugby community this year: President - Ada Milby Secretary General - Monica Araneta Tiosejo Treasurer - Chris Moriarty Board Members:
“In 2024, we are focused on strengthening the foundation of Philippine rugby, both at the elite and community levels. With the return of the Philippine Volcanoes to top division in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series and our continued participation in major tournaments like the SEA Games and Asian Games, we aim to inspire more Filipinos to take up the sport and represent the country with pride,” said PRFU President Ada Milby. She added, “we would also like to thank outgoing trustee Phil Campbell for his contributions during his term and outgoing ex-officio Jake Letts for his more than two decades of passion and commitment to the union’s success.” The team is set to host a number of community activities in the lead up to RWC2025 in England, along with its inaugural involvement with the Unions Cup (Men’s XVs) in June. The men’s and women’s 7s teams will compete in the Asia Rugby Sevens Series this September-October, followed by the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok, Thailand, at the end of the year, with preparations for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan. About Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. PRFU oversees various rugby programs, competitions, and national teams, aiming to make rugby a major sport in the Philippines. For inquiries, please contact: [email protected] by Mark Villamora From the initial “IT IS WHAT IT IS” as the team lost their luggage en route to the tournament, to a historic “IT IS WHAT IT IS” double gold victory. A month ago, both the men's and women's Philippine Rugby National Teams hailed as the Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens (AREST) Champions in Nepal on October 5. Seven Series relegation In 2023, both the Volcanoes men's and women's teams faced relegation from the Asia Rugby Sevens Series (ARSS) to the Trophy Series after finishing at the bottom of the standings. This marked the end of their three-year stint in the Sevens Series, where the top eight national teams in Asia compete against each other in a three-leg tournament hosted in different countries each month. The relegation meant the teams needed to prove themselves again and earn their spots back among Asia's top rugby teams by winning gold at the Trophy Series.  Philippine Team starts the AREST campaign with a four-match clean sheet. A double gold comeback The men's team clinched the Cup Final with a decisive 27-12 victory over Chinese Taipei, while the women’s team held off India with a nail-biting 7-5 win. These wins secured the Volcanoes’ return to the Sevens Series. But this wasn’t just a matter of luck. The men’s and women’s Volcanoes teams launched their AREST campaigns with dominance, overpowering their respective pools with four consecutive clean-sheet matches and leaving their opponents scoreless by impressive margins. The women’s Volcanoes kicked off their campaign with an explosive start right after the opening ceremony. Vanessa Cifuentes scored the Philippines' first try just a minute into the game, undeterred by the loud cheers from the home crowd supporting host country Nepal. Cifuentes went on to become the tournament’s top try-scorer, with an impressive total of six tries in the 2024 AREST campaign.
Humps along the Everest “It is what it is” became the team's mantra when their luggage was lost at the airport upon their arrival in Nepal, along with several other circumstances that were beyond their control. "The experience was special because of how difficult it was... We have lost baggages, busses coming up late, and sort of challenges that sometimes can make it quite difficult. And we overcome a lot of those to get to win," shared men’s captain Kai Stroem shared in a live interview with Radyo Pilipinas. The challenges didn’t stop with lost luggage; the team was unable to practice on the actual venue or even set foot on the rugby field. With no other options available, they had to rent a hockey court with artificial turf, which was less than half the size of a standard rugby field. Yet, they maintained the attitude of “it is what it is,” making the best of the situation with the resources at hand. Financial challenges were also significant. Players based internationally had to cover their own flights to the Philippines for the training camp. To support their teammates, men’s Volcanoes brothers Donald and Jake Coleman organized a fundraising initiative to bring in players from New Zealand for the training pool. Management faced additional difficulties, such as needing to share accommodations due to budget constraints. The team’s luggage exceeded the maximum allowance, resulting in unexpected expenses. The team also welcomed new faces, including players, a new coach, and management, all striving to make the most of a 10-day training camp before the tournament. This camp was often the only opportunity for the players to meet in person. In preparation for the tournament, the players diligently logged their workouts and trained at their respective rugby clubs for months, supporting one another despite the time differences. Many made sacrifices in their work and family commitments to represent the team, including Volcanoes moms Kate Palis and Sylvia Tudoc, who have toddlers. The team encountered numerous “it is what it is” moments on their journey to winning double gold. Regardless of the obstacles, the Volcanoes reached their Everest. These hurdles could not have been overcome without the support of KMC, the Philippine Sports Commission, the Philippine Olympic Committee, Pillar Sports, Fitness First Philippines, and loyal Volcanoes rugby fans, all of whom served as crucial pillars during this journey. The Future of the Volcanoes
The Volcanoes are gearing up for a busy year ahead. As one of Asia's top eight teams, they will participate in the three-month-long 2025 Asia Rugby Sevens Series, all while preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Thailand and the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Although the team has not yet regained the same resources and support they had prior to the pandemic, their historic double gold achievement at the AREST 2024 demonstrates that, regardless of the challenges they face, they can soar together and overcome any obstacle because “IT IS WHAT IT IS.” About Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for the sport of rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. PRFU oversees various rugby programs, competitions, and national teams, aiming to make rugby a major sport in the Philippines. For inquiries, please contact: [email protected] |
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