 The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) proudly announces the travelling squad that will represent the country at the SEA Women’s XVs Championship 2026, to be held at Padang Astaka, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from February 8–14, 2026. Following a seven-year hiatus, the Philippine Women’s Rugby National Team returns to the international XVs stage, marking an important step forward in the continued growth of women’s rugby in the country. The PRFU extends its appreciation to the Southeast Asia Rugby Federation (SEARF) and the Malaysia Rugby Union for hosting this championship, which provides valuable international exposure and strengthens regional competitiveness.  Below is the official travelling line-up of the Philippine Women’s Rugby XVs National Team:
Players
Coaching & Management Staff Head Coach: Hasan Ilter Assistant Coach: Serupepeli Naqasima Physiotherapists: Rico Barin (Camp), Jun Whei Cheah (On-Tour) Team Manager: Lalaine Joyce Bacus The Philippine Women’s XVs team will open its campaign on Wednesday, February 11, against Singapore, with kickoff scheduled for 4:00 PM. The Philippine Men’s Rising Stars are set to represent the country at the 2026 Southeast Asian 7s, scheduled on January 30–31 at the Singapore Recreation Club and the National Stadium in Singapore. The Rising Stars squad brings together a promising mix of young talent and developing national prospects as they compete against teams from across the region in the fast-paced sevens format.  Players representing the Philippines:
Head Coach – Serupepeli Naqasima Physiotherapist – Jun Whei Cheah Team Manager – Jane Francisco The Philippines will open its campaign against Indonesia at 9:20 AM (PHT), aiming to start strong in the tournament and showcase the country’s growing depth in rugby sevens. 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] The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU), following the submission of its proposal, held a meeting with the Department of Education (DepEd) on January 20 to discuss the implementation of the “Bayanihan Rugby: A Sport for Development Pilot Program.”
The meeting was attended by Cesar S. Abalon, Chief Education Program Specialist from the Bureau of Learner Support Services (BLSS) of the Department of Education. This initiative aims to collaborate with DepEd in delivering a values-based sports program that uses rugby as a tool for education, inclusion, and positive youth development. Through structured and age-appropriate activities, the program seeks to integrate physical activity with character formation inside the school setting. The proposed pilot program will be implemented in the Pasig Division, targeting eight public elementary schools. It will focus on Grade 5 students (ages 10–11) through teacher-led sessions based on the PRFU’s Rugby Rising Play curriculum. The program emphasizes the use of sport to develop essential life skills such as discipline, respect, leadership, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Through this pilot, the PRFU and DepEd aim to explore how rugby can support holistic learning and contribute to the overall development of Filipino youth at the grassroots level. 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 The Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU), led by Interim Head of Operations Lorie Baclagon and several members of the Women’s Volcanoes National Team, conducted a rugby sports clinic at Pasig City Elementary School on November 8, 2025.  Members of PRFU conducting rugby clinic at Pasig City Elementary School on November 8, 2025. The activity was part of the Department of Education’s (DepEd) “Fun-Larong Bata” program, which aims to introduce sports that are not yet included in the Batang Pinoy competition — with rugby being one of them. The initiative seeks to develop young athletes who may one day represent these emerging sports in national youth tournaments.
Selected schools from all 16 districts of Metro Manila participated in the event, promoting wider exposure to rugby among students across the region. The program also aims to expand soon to other regions in the Philippines, allowing more young athletes nationwide to experience and learn the sport. 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 The Philippine Women’s Rugby Team made an impressive showing, coming just one try short against Kazakhstan, losing 14–5, in the final leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series today, October 18, at the Colombo Racecourse Sports Complex in Sri Lanka. In a match full of late-game drama, the Women’s Volcanoes kept it a closely contested battle. The Volcanoes’ first-half fire was highlighted by Vanessa Cifuentes delivering a crucial tackle to stop Kazakhstan just short of a try at the two-minute mark.  Vanessa Cifuentes with a crucial tackle to stop Kazakhstan’s try at the 2025 ARESS Sri Lanka 7s. Photo by Asia Rugby. Kazakhstan received a yellow card, keeping them down to six players for the remaining first half—an advantage for the Women’s Volcanoes.  Lora Mateo smashes through Kazakhstan’s defense with Sylvia Tudoc on backup at the 2025 ARESS Sri Lanka 7s. Photo by Asia Rugby. Lora Mateo offloaded under pressure, Janin Puig secured the ball, and Jacquiline Lyden got it and sliced through the gap to score the Volcanoes’ first try of the final leg, ending the first half at 7–5 and keeping them close to Kazakhstan. The second half mirrored the intensity of the first. Both teams fighting in time-on for a late-game try, but Kazakhstan ultimately claimed the match 14–5.  Still, the Philippines delivered a strong performance in this closely contested game.
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] |
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