Philippine 7s Select Team set for last 7s tourney in Harpenden UK

This Sunday a contingent of Philippine heritage players will compete in Harpenden Rugby’s 2022 National Pub and Hen 7s festival. The sevens team is built on the backbone of a United Kingdom Philippine Rugby select program largely thanks to Philippine Volcano Vincent Amar Young with the help of the unions national management program.

“It’s great to see Filipinos get together outside the Philippines to represent the Union as we continue to grow our program both domestically and internationally. Last weekend we held our first 7s rugby festival at Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, this weekend our domestic based players will be playing at Ayala Country Club while at the same time we will have some players competing in the United Kingdom” shared Jake Letts of Philippine Rugby.
The select team will feature a number of capped experienced national players, including Vincent Amar Young, Steve Pagtalunan Howorth, Jobel De Castro and Raphael Concepcion Barberis. The rest of the side will be boosted by a number of newly recruited players to the program, as well as others having represented the Philippine Maharlikans or have represented the Philippine National Youth Programs in the past.
“It’s going to be an exciting group to play with, some new faces mixed with some experience. We have a well balanced squad with size, skill and speed” Young shares.
Twenty five teams across the United Kingdom have entered the competition. The competition will also serve as a selection stage for the upcoming annual Asia Sevens Series in October and November.

“The competition will be a great platform for these players to aid in their selection for national team honours later in the year, we will be competing in international events in Thailand, Korea and hopefully the UAE” Letts added

Philippine Rugby continues to navigate forward in a post pandemic era, with rugby restarting and being played across Asia and the world once again.
“After a challenging few years, it’s great to see Rugby back playing again in the Philippines as well was abroad. Programs locally and such as the one in the UK is evident the passion for Philippine Rugby is strong and hopefully success on the field follows alongside” Letts adds.
For more information on the competition and rugby development, follow Philippine Rugby on Facebook and Instagram

2022 Harpenden Rugby National Pub & Hen 7s Team:

1. Steve Pagtalunan Howorth
2. Christian Cawagas Gapuz
3. Michael Urbano Greenhalgh
4. Vince Amar Young
5. Finn Dela Cruz Mulholland
6. Justine Palacio Catubig
7. William Obienta Anderson
8. Robert Gabona Orr
9. Jobel De Castro
10. Raphael Concepcion Barberis
11. Rafael Julian Philipps
12. Charles Vicente
13. Judd Urbano Greenhalgh

Coach: Travis McIntyre
Manager: Matthew Orag Bellenie