Volcanoes all set to identify QLD talent

Archives: Coach David Johnston runs a joint session for the national mens and womens program in the Philippines.

This Sunday, Philippine Rugby and the Philippine Volcanoes launches their global talent identification and recruitment program. The first of 10 across the world, the Volcanoes national program adapt to the pandemic to ensure their rugby program continues to rise amongst the countries domestic challenges.

Philippine Rugby have had to halt their local domestic season and all contact training sessions since March 2020 when Covid-19 government restrictions stopped all local rugby activities. After eighteen months, the country still faces consistent and ongoing challenges in managing the pandemic.

Due to the reality of restrictions on the domestic side, the Union has diverted strategic decisions to focus on rugby participation internationally to ensure Filipinos are able to have access to play rugby, regardless of their location. A successful partnership with Brothers Rugby Club - Brisbane allows Filipinos playing rugby in Queensland access to the Unions high performance recruitment program. A number of successful players from Queensland Australia have represented the Philippines at the highest level, a pool of talent that has been identified.

“There’s approximately 12 million Filipinos who live outside the Philippines, a small percentage of those play rugby. We want to target these populations globally to identify, track, monitor and select those that show promise” shared Jake Letts of Philippine Rugby and the Philippine Volcanoes.

The talent I.D and recruitment day tomorrow in Brisbane will act as the first stop of the global program. The same project will be made in NSW Australia, Auckland New Zealand, Hong Kong, Dubai, England, the USA and Canada over the next 12 months.

“We are lucky enough to have a global Philippine Rugby community, with a presence in each of these countries. We have called upon our Volcanoes Alumni to help assist with the program. Each program will be represented by present or past members of our Union. This ensures the quality of the program will not be lost and act as a model of reengagement in a time where the world has been halted” Letts added.

​Philippine Rugby is expecting new talent to be featured tomorrow at Brothers with the program starting at 11:30 AM at Crosby Park, Albion. The two hour field session will be open to youth players from 15 years and above plus men and women. Registrations are still open and entry is free. Head to philippines.rugby for more information

Philippine Rugby would like to thank Brothers Rugby Club - Brisbane and all their sponsors for supporting this initiative.