Three new members elected into Board of Trustees, Milby continues as President

Gareth Holgate

Steve Mommaerts

Phil Campbell

Philippine Rugby welcomes three newly elected trustees to the governing board for the next two years. Gareth Holgate of Eagles RFC, Steve Mommaerts of Manila Nomads and Philip Campbell of Cebu Dragons have taken up the three available positions.
 
Ada Milby has also been re-elected into a two-year term and will continue her role as the Union’s President. This will be her third year elected into the position.
 
"I'm honored for the opportunity to continue serving our Philippine Rugby members, stakeholders and communities. It's a critical time for us as we reflect on our successes of the past decade and identify areas we need to adapt and improve to future proof our organisation. Thankfully, as we move into designing our new Strategic Plan for 2024 - 2028, we have representation on our board that reflects the game across Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon. The board together with key stakeholders will set the direction for the organisation moving forward towards making Rugby a choice sport for Filipinos” Milby shared.
 
The first member inducted is well known around the rugby community, he played for over a decade for the national program and is the current CEO of SDW Realty who carries a wealth of experience both on field and off the field. Gareth Holgate will be a welcomed addition to the governing body.
 
“It has been a great privilege and honour to have been selected to play for the Volcanoes during the last 12 years, and I have enjoyed the participation and the camaraderie this offered immensely. I have also learnt a great deal from the experience and gained many firm friends in the process. It is also great to see our up-and-coming stars of the future coming forward both internationally and domestically. I am also hugely honored to join the Board of the Philippine Rugby Football Union, and I am very excited and greatly looking forward to this next chapter. This is where I can contribute in an advisory position and I hope to pass on my skills and the experience that I have gained, for the benefit and improvement of the game in the Philippines” Holgate shared.
 
The second seat will be availed by Philip Campbell, he will be the second representative to represent the Visayas Mindanao region playing a significant role with the Cebu Dragons for the last seven years. Campbell was also a former national coach for Hong Kong in the 90s.
 
“I look forward to growing the game, growing local talent in wider regions outside Luzon and having an impact at a national level. I would like to support diversity and to continue to drive the game and PRFU forward. It’s important to ensure we brand the game to have a local and corporate partnership appeal” Campbell added.
 
Steve Mommaerts is the last newly elected trustee; Mommaerts has been associated with Manila Nomads and domestic rugby for fourteen years. He has also assisted Philippine Rugby as a match official for the past five years.
 
“As part of the new board for the PRFU, I will work with my other board members to further drive the vision established by the past PRFU administration in order to build on the foundation for rugby in the Philippines that has been laid. I look forward to finding solutions to whatever challenges arise over the next 24 months,” Mommaerts shared. 
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To cap off the elected trustees, serving eight years as President and a cumulative term of four years as Secretary General Rick Santos has been assigned into an ex-officio role alongside Jaime Urquijo. Santos and Urquijo have played influential roles for the union for over a decade and will continue to advise the national sports association as an additional governing support network throughout the transition.
 
All appointed members will be joined by Max Stewart, Rose Lanticse and Ric Bellen for the next 12 months to serve as the Union’s Board of Trustees for 2023.