Kadayawan T1 Rugby Festival Expands Grassroots Reach in Davao

by Mark Villamora

​T1 Rugby returns for the third consecutive year as an official sport of the 41st Kadayawan Sports Festival, set for August 22–23, 2026, at the University of the Philippines Mindanao Admin Football Field in Davao City.

The Kadayawan Festival is Davao City’s annual celebration of culture and community, with sports forming a major part of the celebration.

Alongside traditional games showcased through Dula Kadayawan, which highlights the cultural heritage of Davao City’s 11 ethnolinguistic groups, the Kadayawan Sports Festival features a wide range of competitive sports, including rugby.

T1 Rugby joined the Kadayawan Sports Festival in 2024, debuting with 18 teams.

The tournament grew to 30 teams in 2025, with participation expanding beyond Davao to include teams from Cebu City.

2025 participants of the T1 Rugby Festival held at Catalunan Elementary School in Davao City.

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​For its third edition, T1 Rugby is further expanding its reach through public schools across Davao City following a formal endorsement from the Department of Education Schools Division of Davao City.

Lamanan National High School will also make its T1 Rugby debut as part of this year’s festival.
The continued inclusion of T1 Rugby in the Kadayawan Sports Festival provides young athletes with an accessible entry point into rugby through its non-contact format.

Leading grassroots rugby development in the region is Davao Durians RFC, which uses the sport as a platform for youth development and community engagement.

Through initiatives such as Project 0 and the upcoming Project H0PE, Davao Durians integrates life-skills mentorship, character development, resilience, and values-based learning into its programs.

The club also works with organizations including the Foundation of Balay Pasilungan, SOS Children’s Village, Field of Dreams Children’s Charity Home, and Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights Inc. to bring rugby programs to children and young people in different communities.

Davao Durians’ “Tara, Laro Tayo” rugby mentorship program held at SOS Children’s Village Davao earlier this year.

​The Kadayawan T1 Rugby Festival also provides a scouting platform for young athletes looking to progress from grassroots programs into regional and national competitions.

“T1 Rugby’s presence provides Mindanao youth with a safe, free, and accessible entry point into team sports. By connecting local public school athletes to national youth development pathways under the PRFU, the festival serves as a sustainable model for growing rugby across the region,” said Mindanao Community Rugby Development Officer BK Delos Santos.

Players identified through these programs can pursue opportunities to represent Davao in national youth competitions such as Batang Pinoy, creating a pathway from community participation to higher-level competition.

From 18 teams in 2024 to 30 teams in 2025 and an expanded reach into public schools in 2026, the Kadayawan T1 Rugby Festival continues to provide a growing platform for grassroots rugby development in Davao.
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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 develops and promotes rugby nationwide through grassroots programs, domestic competitions, national development programs, and the Philippine national rugby teams.

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