THE VOLCANOES BLOW TOP OFF MALAYSIA; PHILIPPINES SECURES BACK-TO-BACK UNIONS CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS7/18/2026
by Mark Villamora NONTHABURI, THAILAND — The Philippine Volcanoes are still the kings of the rugby pitch. In a high-stakes showdown at the Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium on Saturday, July 18, the Philippines unleashed a devastating second-half scoring blitz to dismantle a resilient Malaysian squad, 39-18, successfully defending their Unions Cup title. Following dominant tournament victories over Laos (74-0) and Singapore (33-10), the Volcanoes entered the finals facing their steepest test yet. Last year's champions—who captured the crown in Kaohsiung, Taiwan—found themselves locked in a tight contest through the opening 40 minutes before completely pulling away after the break. A First-Half Pendulum The Philippines struck first and struck hard. Just five minutes into the match, James Halasan Ryan weaponized pure brute strength, bulldozing through the Malaysian defense following consecutive, grinding scrums near the try line. A successful conversion by Ryan Rodriguez Curtis put the Volcanoes up 7-0 early. But Malaysia refused to back down. They chipped away at the lead with an 11th-minute penalty kick, and despite pulling another attempt wide shortly after, they seized the momentum. In the 20th minute, Malaysia exposed a rare gap in the Philippine backline to score their opening try, jumping ahead 10-7. The rest of the half played out like a chess match. Ryan Curtis leveled things at 10-10 with a clutch 28th-minute penalty kick, only for Malaysia to pierce through the defense three minutes later for their second try of the afternoon. A missed conversion left the score at 15-10.  Ryan Rodriguez Curtis steps up to deliver a crucial 28th-minute penalty kick, bringing the Volcanoes level at 10-10. Just when it looked like the Volcanoes would head into the sheds trailing, magic struck right at the halftime whistle. Jason Bonilla Schirmer orchestrating a beautiful, crisp pass to Edlen Hernandez, who dotted it down to equalize. A massive Malaysian block on the conversion kept the score deadlocked at 15-15 at the break. Volcanoes Erupt in the Second Half Whatever adjustments the Philippine coaching staff made at halftime worked flawlessly. The Volcanoes came out for the second half playing with an entirely different level of physicality and pace. The breakthrough came in the 48th minute when Richard Nicholas Lewis put the team on his back, trampling over a stubborn Malaysian defense to score a massive try. Curtis tacked on the extra points, putting the Philippines back in control at 22-15. Curtis then extended the lead to 25-15 in the 62nd minute with another clinical penalty kick. Malaysia gave one final gasp in the 69th minute, slotting a penalty to trim the deficit to 25-18, but that only served to wake the sleeping giant. The final ten minutes belonged entirely to the Philippines, highlighted by a breathtaking, coast-to-coast team try. Kai Ledesma Stroem launched a deep, calculated kick that a chasing Vince Young miraculously secured. Young quickly shipped the ball to Ned Plarizan Stephenson, who linked up perfectly with Charles Amistozo Warren for a spectacular, diving finish across the try line. Curtis nailed the conversion to make it 32-18.  Charles Amistozo Warren dives across the try line to cap off a clinical team play in the 71st minute, extending the Philippines' lead to 32-18 following Ryan Curtis' successful conversion. Four minutes later, Connor Browne put the exclamation point on the championship performance, bulldozing his way over the line for one final try. Curtis maintained his near-flawless kicking display to seal the 39-18 scoreline. Bringing the Cup Home With the victory, the Volcanoes solidify their era of dominance in the tournament. Even better news for Filipino rugby fans? They won't have to travel far to see the defense of the crown. It was confirmed that the Philippines will officially host the Unions Cup next year, bringing the action right to the home crowd as they eye a historic three-peat. | Photos by Azrael Coladilla About the Philippine Rugby Football Union
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to developing and promoting rugby across the country, from grassroots participation to elite competition. The Union oversees domestic competitions, national development programs, and the Philippine national rugby teams, with the goal of growing rugby as a leading sport in the Philippines. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]  by Mark Villamora The Philippine Volcanoes booked their ticket to the Unions Cup finals with a commanding 33–10 victory over Singapore at the Navaminda Kasatriyadhiraj Royal Air Force Academy (NKRAFA) Pitch in Bangkok. Fueled by a relentless, high-scoring second half, the defending champions turned a razor-thin halftime lead into a definitive statement on the pitch. A Tightly Contested Opening Half From the opening whistle, the Volcanoes signaled their intent. Winning the opening scrum, the Philippines immediately secured possession and set a physical tone for the match. The early pressure paid dividends when Singapore conceded a penalty, allowing dynamic playmaker Ryan Curtis to step up to the tee and calmly slot the ball through the uprights, putting the Philippines ahead 3–0. Singapore refused to beat a hasty retreat. Following a grueling, hard-fought stretch of play where both defensive lines were pushed to their limits, Singapore drew a penalty of their own and leveled the score at 3–3. The Volcanoes found their response through a perfectly executed set piece. After winning a clean lineout, the Filipino pack powered forward, sucking in the Singaporean defense. Sensing the opportunity, scrum-half Kai Stroem delivered a perfectly weighted tactical kick into open space. Winger Vince Young won the footrace, gathered the bouncing ball cleanly, and dove over the line for the match’s opening try, restoring the lead at 8–3. Singapore bounced back before the break, putting together a clinical phase of rugby that resulted in a converted try, momentarily edging ahead 10–8. However, just as the clock ticked toward halftime, the Volcanoes earned another penalty. Showing immense composure, Curtis slotted his second successful kick of the afternoon, sending the Philippines into the halftime huddle with a narrow 11–10 advantage. The Second-Half Blitz If the first half was a chess match, the second half was a showcase of pure Filipino firepower. Just 30 seconds after the restart, Ned Stephenson blew the game wide open. The bruising backliner burst through the defensive line on a tearing run, drew the last defender, and linked up with Vince Young. Young quickly flipped the ball back inside to Stephenson, who completed the breathtaking, coast-to-coast play to score the try, extending the lead to 16–10. Momentum had firmly shifted, and the Volcanoes began to play with immense flair. Minutes later, Judd Greenhalgh received the ball in the midfield. With the defense closing in, Greenhalgh sold a spectacular dummy pass that completely froze the Singaporean line. Keeping the ball himself, he cut through the gap and dove over for another try. Curtis added the extra two points with a successful conversion, pushing the score to 23–10. The finest individual moment of the match belonged to Michael Blatteis. Picking up the ball near the halfway line, the lightning-fast back turned on the afterburners, evading desperate Singaporean tackles as he shredded the defense. Blatteis sprinted the distance to score an incredible try right in the corner pocket of the try zone. Facing a nearly impossible conversion from the absolute edge of the touchline, Curtis stepped up and struck the ball beautifully, routing it through the posts to make it 30–10.  Michael Blatteis dives in for a brilliant try to cap off an incredible coast-to-coast run. Closing It Out In the 70th minute, the Volcanoes put the finishing touches on their masterclass. After drawing another penalty, Curtis stepped up to the tee one last time, calmly slotting the penalty goal to bring his personal tally to 13 points on the day.  Curtis strikes a late penalty goal through the uprights, locking in a decisive 33–10 win for the Volcanoes. The referee's final whistle blew shortly after, concluding a dominant 22–0 second-half run by the Philippines. With a final score of 33–10, the Volcanoes march into the final as they look to defend their Unions Cup title. They are set to face off against Malaysia in the championship match this coming Saturday, July 18, at 5:00 PM Philippine Time at the Nonthaburi Stadium in Thailand.
Match Summary
About the Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to developing and promoting rugby across the country, from grassroots participation to elite competition. The Union oversees domestic competitions, national development programs, and the Philippine national rugby teams, with the goal of growing rugby as a leading sport in the Philippines. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] by Mark Villamora The Philippine Men’s XVs Volcanoes opened their Unions Cup 2026 campaign in dominant fashion, defeating Laos 74–0 at the NKRAFA Pitch in Thailand. Raphael Barberis opened the scoring for the Volcanoes with an early try, giving the Philippines a 7–0 lead. Charles Warren soon added another try to extend the advantage to 12–0, before Benjamin Mudie crossed the line to make it 17–0. Warren scored his second try of the match after a brilliant pass from Barberis, pushing the score to 22–0. Tommy Gilbert then powered through multiple defenders to score, giving the Volcanoes a 27–0 lead. Michael Blatteis finished a brilliant team move involving Ned Stephenson and Barberis, with Stephenson adding the conversion to make it 34–0 at halftime. The Volcanoes continued their momentum in the second half as Blatteis scored his second try after a pass from James Ryan, followed by a Stephenson conversion for a 41–0 lead. Richard Lewis then produced a powerful bulldozer run through multiple Laos defenders to score, with Kyle Westbrook adding his first conversion points on debut (48–0). Sean Sweetman delivered another dominant carry, forcing his way over the line as Westbrook converted to make it 55–0. Ned Stephenson added another try after a strong scrum from the Volcanoes pack, with Westbrook converting for 62–0. Connor Browne scored another try after a quick-thinking move from a scrum, and Westbrook added the conversion to extend the lead to 69–0. Westbrook capped off his Volcanoes debut with his first try for the national team, finishing a brilliant play from Chezter Altea, who kicked ahead, chased the ball, and delivered the final pass. The try sealed the Philippines’ emphatic 74–0 victory over Laos.  Kyle Westbrook dives over for his first Volcanoes try, sealing the Philippines' 74–0 victory over Laos. The Volcanoes now begin their Unions Cup 2026 campaign with a statement win. Despite the dominant opening performance, Head Coach Josh emphasized that the team's focus remains on the two remaining matches as they continue their title defense. He also called on the Filipino rugby community around the world to rally behind the Volcanoes. "I really encourage anyone who's here in Bangkok to come out and watch us. And if you're at home, please support us online. The games will be streamed. We feel your support no matter where in the world you are. So, if you're in the Philippines, if you're in Manila, if you're in the provinces, or if you're in my mom's hometown of Bacolod, please support us and watch what we're doing," he said. With their opening win secured, the Volcanoes now shift their focus to Singapore on July 15 at 5:00 p.m. (PHT) at the NKRAFA Pitch in Thailand. The defending champions will look to build on their strong start as they continue their campaign to retain the Unions Cup 2026 title. About the Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to developing and promoting rugby across the country, from grassroots participation to elite competition. The Union oversees domestic competitions, national development programs, and the Philippine national rugby teams, with the goal of growing rugby as a leading sport in the Philippines. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] PRFU Announces Top 30 Squad and Seven Players Selected for the Asian Barbarians at Unions Cup 20267/11/2026
by Mark Villamora
The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) has announced its travelling squad for the Unions Cup 2026, sending 37 players and five management staff to Bangkok, Thailand, from July 12–18, as the team aims to defend its Unions Cup title. In addition, seven members of the Philippine squad have been selected to represent the Asian Barbarians, a representative side composed of players from different rugby unions across Asia. The following are the Top 30 players of the Philippine Men's 15s Rugby National Team, from which the 23-man matchday squad will be selected throughout the three matches of the Unions Cup.
Head Coach: Joshua Torres Sutcliffe Assistant Coach: Robert Luceno Fogerty Physiotherapists: Jun Whei Cheah & Archibald Look Team Manager: Lalaine Joyce Bacus The following seven Filipino players have also been selected to join the Asian Barbarians during the tournament:
Nineteen of the 37-player travelling squad are new additions compared to last year's Unions Cup squad. The group includes standout performers from the local rugby scene, members of the Philippine Men's Sevens National Team, and players making their debut as part of the Volcanoes program. The team arrived in Bangkok on July 7 and has begun its intensive training camp ahead of its opening match against Laos on July 12 at 3:00 PM (PHT) at NKRAFA Pitch in Saraburi, Thailand. The tournament will also be played at the Armed Forces Development Command (AFDC) Stadium and conclude at the Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium (NONPAO), with all venues located in Bangkok. Stay updated by following the Philippine Rugby Football Union's social media platforms for the latest news, match updates, and results from the Unions Cup 2026. About the Philippine Rugby Football Union The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) is the governing body for rugby in the Philippines. Established in 1998, PRFU is dedicated to developing and promoting rugby across the country, from grassroots participation to elite competition. The Union oversees domestic competitions, national development programs, and the Philippine national rugby teams, with the goal of growing rugby as a leading sport in the Philippines. For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] by Mark Villamora There is something remarkable about 16-year-old Pass It Back (PIB) coach Rachel Pontero from Olongapo. At a young age, she is already challenging traditional ideas about coaching and helping shape what the next generation of coaches could look like.  Rachel Pontero (16), a Pass It Back Youth Coach from Olongapo City, Philippines. Many former players enter coaching carrying the same pressures, expectations, and even traumas they experienced under their own coaches. Some unknowingly pass these on to the athletes they mentor. Rachel, however, takes a different approach. She believes that every player is unique and that effective coaching comes from understanding individual needs, strengths, and challenges. For her, an individualized approach is not just a coaching style - it is the foundation of good leadership. “Hindi ko po nakikita yung sarili ko na ganon po sa mga players ko na sobrang harsh, sobrang lala magsalita, kasi ayokong may isang player na dun na sila mag-stop.” “I don’t see myself being that kind of coach to my players who is very harsh and speaks very badly, because I don’t want a single player to have those reasons that they stop.” Every player is different, and as she works closely with and lives in the same community as the youth of PIB Olongapo, it breaks her heart to see them go through experiences they should not have to endure. “May mga time na natataasan ko sila ng boses pero di po talaga ako gumagamit ng mga salitang alam kong makakasakit sa kanila, kasi naranasan ko po kasi yun, alam ko po yung pakiramdam.” “There are times I raise my voice at them, but I really don’t use words that I know will hurt them, because I have experienced that too, I know how it feels.” Rachel believes there is power in observation, a value highly emphasized by her parents while she was growing up. This has helped her become a coach who makes everyone feel seen and provides individualized guidance for each player. She believes that despite living in the same community, every youth in Olongapo still has different walks of life. “Encouragement at pagiging malapit po talaga sa kanila [players], dun po ako mas naging mas open at mas nakilala ko pa po sila isa-isa.” “Through encouragement and being close to them [the players], that’s where I become more open and get to know them more one by one.” The young coach also shared an unforgettable journey she had where it became the “pass that came back” to her. Coach Reflection Narrative  Youth Coach Rachel "Che" Pontero (16), from Pass It Back Youth in Olongapo City, Philippines. "May mga pagkakataon sa pagiging coach na hindi mo inaasahang magiging mahalaga sa’yo. Hindi ito yung mga sandali na may malalaking panalo o may palakpakan ng maraming tao. Minsan, nagsisimula lang sa isang simpleng training tahimik, ordinaryo, pero may isang moment na unti-unting nagiging mahalaga habang naiintindihan mo ang ibig sabihin nito.
Naalala ko pa sa bawat training namin. Bilang bagong coach, hindi ko maitatanggi na may kaba ako. Maraming tanong ang pumapasok sa isip ko noon. Kaya ko ba silang turuan? Maiintindihan ba nila ang mga sinasabi ko? Magiging sapat ba ako bilang coach para sa kanila? Habang nagsisimula kami sa warm-up, pinapanuod ko lang sila. Tumatakbo sila sa field, nag-iistretching, sinusunod ang mga simpleng instructions. Sa dami ng players, may isang player na unti-unting nakakuha ng pansin ko. Hindi dahil siya ang pinaka magaling, at hindi rin dahil siya ang pinaka maingay. Tahimik lang siya, pero makikita mo sa kilos niya na seryoso siya sa ginagawa niya. Habang ipinapakita ko ang pag pasa at salo ng bola, napansin ko na nakatingin siya nang mabuti. Para bang bawat galaw na ipinapakita ko ay gusto niyang maintindihan. Nang magsimula na silang gawin ang drills, doon ko nakita na nahihirapan pa siya sa umpisa. May mga bola na hindi niya agad nasasalo at may mga pasa na hindi pa tama ang lakas o direksyon.Pero sa halip na tumigil o mapahiya, ginawa niya ang isang bagay na para sa akin ay napakahalaga. Sinubukan niya ulit. Kapag nahulog ang bola, pupulutin niya ito at susubukan ulit. Kapag nagkamali ang pasa, babawi siya sa susunod. At kapag may sinabi akong correction, makikita mo sa kilos niya na talagang sinusubukan niyang gawin nang mas maayos. Habang pinapanuod ko siya noon, may naramdaman akong kakaiba bilang coach. Parang sa bawat attempt niya, may mensaheng sinasabi ang effort niya na gusto niyang matuto, na gusto niyang gumaling, at na handa siyang magtiyaga kahit hindi madali. At doon ako naging proud. Hindi dahil nakita ko ang pinaka magaling na player sa team. Kundi dahil nakita ko ang isang player na may tapang magsimula at may puso para matuto. Sa totoo lang, habang pinapanuod ko siyang paulit-ulit na sumusubok, may isang bagay din akong napansin sa sarili ko. Parang sa bawat effort niya, mas lalo akong na m-motivate na turuan sya/sila. Doon ko naintindihan na ang pagiging coach ay hindi lang tungkol sa paghahanap ng magagaling na players. Ito ay tungkol sa pagkilala sa mga players na may determinasyon yung mga taong handang matuto kahit mahirap, at handang mag grow kahit nagsisimula pa lang at mayroong disiplina sa sarili. May isang player na tahimik na lumalaban para gumaling at matuto. At may isang coach na tahimik ding natutong maniwala sa kahalagahan ng bawat maliit na effort. Dahil minsan, ang pinakamagandang simula ng isang player ay hindi nakikita sa galing niya sa umpisa… nakikita ito sa paraan ng pagbangon niya sa bawat pagkakamali. At bilang coach sobrang halaga ang bawat pagtuturo, at bawat encouragement na ibinibigay namin sa kanila. Dahil sa simpleng training na iyon, may isang player na nagpapaalala sa akin kung bakit mahalaga ang ginagawa namin na ang sports ay hindi lang tungkol sa panalo, kundi tungkol sa paglago, tiyaga, at sa puso na patuloy na sumusubok. At sa moment na iyon, naintindihan ko na habang tinutulungan ko silang maging mas mabuting players…unti-unti rin akong hinuhubog para maging mas mabuting coach.” - Coach Che (16), Pass It Back Olongapo City, Philippines There are moments in being a coach that you don’t expect to become so meaningful. These aren’t the times with big wins or loud applause from many people. Sometimes, it starts with a simple, quiet, ordinary training—but then there’s a moment that gradually becomes significant as you understand its meaning. I still remember every training we’ve had. As a new coach, I can’t deny that I was nervous. Many questions ran through my mind back then: Can I really teach them? Will they understand what I’m saying? Will I be enough as a coach for them? As we began the warm-up, I just watched them. They ran on the field, stretched, followed the simple instructions. Among so many players, there was one who gradually caught my attention. Not because she was the best, and not because she was the loudest. She was quiet, but you could see in her actions that she was serious about what she was doing. As I demonstrated passing and catching the ball, I noticed her watching closely, as if she wanted to understand every movement I showed. When they began the drills, I saw that she struggled at first. There were balls she couldn’t catch immediately, and some passes weren’t yet at the right strength or direction. But instead of stopping or feeling embarrassed, she did something that, to me, was incredibly important. She tried again. When the ball fell, she picked it up and tried again. When a pass went wrong, she corrected it the next time. And whenever I gave a correction, you could see in her actions that she genuinely tried to do better. As I watched her, I felt something unusual as a coach. With every attempt, her effort sent a message: she wanted to learn, she wanted to improve, and she was ready to persevere even when it wasn’t easy. And that’s when I felt proud. Not because I saw the best player on the team, But because I saw a player with the courage to start and the heart to learn. Honestly, as I watched her keep trying, I also noticed something in myself. With every effort she made, I became even more motivated to teach her—and all of them. That’s when I understood that being a coach isn’t just about finding the most talented players. It’s about recognizing those with determination—people willing to learn even when it’s hard, willing to grow even when they’re just starting, and who have discipline in themselves. There is a quiet player fighting to improve and learn, And there is a quiet coach learning to value every small effort. Because sometimes, a player’s best beginning isn’t seen in their initial skill… It’s seen in how they rise after every mistake. And as a coach, every lesson we teach, every encouragement we give, is invaluable. Because in that simple training, one player reminded me why what we do is important: sports are not just about winning—they are about growth, perseverance, and the heart to keep trying. And in that moment, I realized that as I help them become better players… I am slowly being shaped into a better coach as well. - Coach Che (16), Pass It Back Olongapo City, Philippines For Rachel Pontero, she challenges the new generation of coaches to consistently connect with their players, intentionally understand each individual, and remain mindful in avoiding coaching approaches that reflect their own past traumatic player experiences during the transition into coaching. These significant milestones of youth coaches in Pass It Back are made possible through the Southeast Asia Sport and Youth Crime Prevention (SYCP) Initiative. Another youth from a vulnerable community has had their life changed and is now passing on positive change to more fellow youth. 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. About Southeast Asia Sport and Youth Crime Prevention (SYCP) Initiative The SYCP Initiative is a visionary and groundbreaking programme that uses sport to build safer and more resilient communities. Initiated by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Agence française de développement (AFD), the Initiative is coordinated by the Alliance of Sport in Criminal Justice (AoS) and delivered in collaboration with a wide network of national, regional and international partners. About Pass It Back Pass It Back is an integrated rugby and life skills learning curriculum designed by ChildFundRugby to equip children and young people to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change, and ‘pass it back’ to their communities. Through play-based learning, young people gain critical social and emotional skills that build confidence, resilience, and leadership – both on and off the field. About ChildFund Rugby ChildFund Rugby, World Rugby’s Global Social Impact Partner, harnesses the power of rugby to drive positive social change, supporting children and young people in vulnerable situations to build leadership, resilience, and shape their own futures. For inquiries, please contact: [email protected] |
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