by Mark Villamora
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​Pasig City, Philippines - The second leg of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) 2025 7s Series delivered another gripping day of rugby at the Ultra PhilSports Complex on August 23, featuring dramatic upsets and breakout performances across all divisions.

In the Men’s Plate Division, Gorillas Rugby turned the tables after a tough start. Earlier in the day, the Manila Hapons handed them a stinging 20–0 defeat in the pool rounds. But when it mattered most, the Gorillas bounced back, edging the Hapons in a nail-biting Plate Final, 7–5, to secure the crown.

On the women’s side, the SKF Makati Mavericks continued their commanding form. They swept all their matches in Leg 2, defeating every opponent they faced—including a decisive 20–0 shutout of Eagles RFC in the Cup Final. The back-to-back title holders remain unbeaten in the series.

The Men’s Cup Final wrapped up the evening with the HK Maharlikans, newcomers to the series, battling through a rollercoaster campaign. After falling to Eagles RFC 21–19 in the pool rounds, they recovered strongly to reach the final. On the other side, the Manila Nomads earned their ticket to the championship by defeating the same Eagles side, 21–7, in the semifinals.

In the title clash, the Maharlikans rose to the occasion, outlasting the Nomads in a thrilling contest, 24–17, to claim their first-ever PRFU 7s Series Cup.

With two legs now completed, shifting champions and rising contenders have set the stage for a fierce chase to the overall crown as the series moves forward.

​About the 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, the PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. It oversees various programs, competitions, and national teams, with the aim of making rugby a major sport in the Philippines.
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For inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]

​by Mark Villamora

​Michaila Alsagon, a youth rugby coach and grassroots leader from Albay, is representing the Philippines at the Grassroots to Global (G2G) Connect Forum in Sunderland, England, from August 17–23.

The G2G Connect Forum is a community leadership initiative of ChildFund Rugby that brings together emerging young female grassroots leaders from around the world to build networks and drive social change through rugby.

Youth coach Michaila departs today, August 16, for a week-long program of activities in England, a country recognized as a leader in women’s club and community rugby. There, she will exchange ideas and strengthen strategies to inspire more girls and women to pursue rugby coaching.

A graduate of the ChildFund Rugby Pass It Back (PIB) Training of Coaches, Michaila is now on her third season with the program, steadily taking bigger steps in this global movement.

Her rugby journey began while she was looking for a part-time job to support her studies. Encouraged by a friend, she applied to the PIB program, which welcomed applicants with no prior rugby experience.

“Di ko din po talaga alam yung rugby sport dati pero naging interesting siya sa akin kasi hindi lang daw sport yung ituturo, pati din daw po life-skills. Tinutuloy-tuloy ko lang po yung application process and luckily nakapasa din po ako nung TOC [Training of Coaches],” she recalled.

Her passion for community building through rugby deepened as she saw the sport transform lives in her community in Albay.

“Naging sobrang malapit na din po sa akin yung program since nakikita ko po talaga na malaki yung nagiging impact niya sa community dito sa Albay, lalo na sa mga players na nai-improve yung character nila through life-skills. Kaya nilolook-forward ko po talaga na magtuloy-tuloy pa yung program at mas lumawak pa siya.”
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In February 2025, during a G2G session in Albay, Michaila was selected as co-captain of her group. Today, she proudly carries the Philippine flag on the global stage as a grassroots community leader.

​About the 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, the PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. It oversees various programs, competitions, and national teams, with the aim of making rugby a major sport in the Philippines.
​
For inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]

by Mark Villamora

​Metro Manila, Philippines — The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) has successfully concluded its 2025 World Rugby Training & Education Superweek, reaching 179 coaches and match officials attendance from the Philippines and abroad in a week-long series of courses held from July 19 to 26 at multiple venues across Metro Manila.

Despite the disruptions caused by Tropical Storms Emong and Dante, the annual program pushed through, delivering training in three key areas: Strength & Conditioning, 7s Coaching, and Match Officiating. The initiative aims to expand the country’s technical rugby workforce and provide clubs with qualified personnel to drive the sport’s growth at both grassroots and competitive levels.

The event featured top World Rugby-certified trainers and educators, including Hilton Soberano, Lewis Chua, Samantha Scott Feausi, and Leo Chuan, along with PRFU President and World Rugby Executive Board Member Ada Milby. They were joined by experienced international experts such as Doug Shearer, Harry Wang, Damon Freeman, and Madille Salinas.

Strength & Conditioning courses were conducted at the Privato Hotel in Ortigas, with Coach Soberano leading Level 1 and Coach Chua heading Level 2. Participants included representatives from clubs across the Philippines, Sri Lanka’s Vihanga Pivithuru Fernando, and Hong Kong’s Katrina Rosyzynski.

The 2025 World Rugby Superweek was supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Olympic Solidarity Fund. PRFU officials expressed optimism that the newly certified coaches and officials will help strengthen rugby development efforts nationwide.

PRFU President Ada Milby emphasized the long-term vision of the program, saying, “These newly certified coaches and officials represent a powerful multiplier for the sport. Every one of them has the potential to shape not just players, but whole communities. By investing in local capacity, we’re building a stronger foundation for rugby’s growth in the Philippines — one that’s more inclusive, more sustainable, and grassroots-led.”

Participants also shared their aspirations following their certification. John Paul Abong, who completed the 7s Coaching program, shared: “With my new certification sa Coaching 7s, I plan to help grow rugby in our club by coaching Rugby 7s, female and male and to have regular Sunday training. In the future, we aim to also join competitions initiated by PRFU or other clubs working with PRFU. May Hope and I have presented structured training plan to the club BOT and we're looking forward to execute our plans.”

Meanwhile, Neo James, a Strength & Conditioning Level 1 participant, reflected on the importance of developing athletes both physically and mentally: “With our new certification in S&C Adult L1, Me and Jade plans to help grow rugby in our club by creating appropriate and flexible training plan for the club’s coaches and soon to be players. In the future, we aim to prepare players either in Tag Rugby, Touch, and Tackle and to become trainers in developing their full potential to become physically fit and also mentally tough.”

For long-time educator Hilton Soberano, the program highlighted the growing participation of regional clubs: “The reason why I became an educator is to bring rugby to the regions and that's what I saw during the Superweek… more and more participants are coming from regional clubs and I look forward to the day these regional clubs grow.”

With stronger technical capacity and wider community engagement, PRFU’s 2025 World Rugby Superweek sets the stage for a new wave of rugby development in the Philippines, driven by passionate leaders ready to serve both their clubs and the national rugby movement.

About the 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, the PRFU is dedicated to the development and promotion of rugby across the country, from grassroots to elite levels. It oversees various programs, competitions, and national teams, with the aim of making rugby a major sport in the Philippines.
​
For inquiries, please contact:
[email protected]