Philippine Volcanoes to Debut in the 2025 Unions Cup

by Mark Villamora

KAOSHIUNG, Taiwan – The Philippine Men’s Volcanoes are set to make their much-anticipated debut in the Unions Cup, a premier 15-a-side senior men’s rugby competition. This year’s tournament will be staged at the impressive 55,000-seat Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan, on July 9 and 12.

The Unions Cup was established last year to strengthen regional competition in Asia, with the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) signing a Memorandum of Agreement to join the tournament in its second edition. This marks a new chapter for Philippine Rugby, expanding opportunities for high-level international test matches.

A squad of 26 players arrived in Kaohsiung yesterday and will undergo intensive preparations leading up to their opening fixture on July 9. The final squad of 23 players to represent the Philippines will be announced soon.

Travelling squad:
Lawrence Beboso, Mat Bellenie, John Mark Cardenas, Thomas Reyes, Ken Edvin Luis Mellorin, Fausto Eizmendi, James Halasan Ryan, Connor Browne, Kian Mulholland, Craig Bayer Wallace, Ardiel Lapid, Edlen Hernandez, Dylan Davies, Christopher Del Rosario Flores, Jonathan Greenwood, Hamish Seddon, Kai Stroem, Kohei Mitsuhasi, Jovan Masalunga, Li Wing Sang Canapi, Ned Stephenson, Aljon Rae Alcoseba, Michael Blatteis, Judd Greenhalgh, Patrice Olivier, Vincent Young.

Staff:
Head Coach Joshua Sutcliffe, Assistant Coach Tommy Gilbert, Team Manager Lalaine Bacus, Physiotherapists David Adamson and Jun Whei Cheah.

The Unions Cup is hosted by participating nations on a rotating basis—first held in Singapore, and this year organized by Chinese Taipei. With the Philippines now part of this growing tournament, there may be opportunities to bring the competition to Manila in future editions.

“This is a significant tournament for our program,” said Ada Milby, President of the Philippine Rugby Football Union.

“Test matches like these are crucial for developing our players and building a strong future for 15s rugby in the Philippines. As the first test match since 2019, we’re proud to see our men's team competing on this stage and look forward to showcasing the heart, discipline, and resilience that define Philippine Rugby.”

The four-union tournament—currently featuring Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines—aims to revitalize the 15s game in East Asia and give test nations more regular, meaningful international fixtures.

​For updates and match results, follow @philippinerugby on social media or visit www.philippines.rugby.

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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