San Juan promoted into GM role, Letts to focus on performance and partnerships

Acee San Juan - General Manager for Development, Competitions and Training & Education

Jake Letts - General Manager for Performance and Partnerships

After close to seven years with Philippine Rugby, senior Rugby Development Manager Acee San Juan has been promoted to one of two newly developed General Manager positions for the country’s national rugby association. Current CEO Jake Letts will move into a specialised management role solely focusing on national team programs and business development for Philippine Rugby and the Philippine Volcanoes.
 
“Moving forward, Acee and I will be focusing on key aspects on how the PRFU can operate efficiently and effectively, that way we can spend additional time on the areas where we both feel we can generate significant improvements. Acee has been tremendous for the union, a promotion for her into General Manager is a deserving pathway and I look forward to continuing to assist her as she paves the way forward for Philippine Rugby” shared Jake Letts.
 
San Juan will directly oversee and manage three critical areas for Philippine Rugby including Development, Competitions and Training & Education. Letts will continue to oversee investments into performance of the national programs as well generate partnerships and sponsorships to assist the Union to move forward in post-pandemic environment.
 
“I am extremely grateful to those before me for setting the foundation of the PRFU and ensuring processes are in place already. I am excited to continue working as we focus on our key areas to better achieve our strategic goals for the Union. The support I received from all my mentors, colleagues, and the rugby community have been helpful in my growth and I thank each one of them, I look forward to continuing to develop rugby further.” shared San Juan.
 
The sports association recently returned to their domestic competitions in April after a two year absence. San Juan will be managing another two rugby festivals this weekend in Alabang and Cebu City along with the executing remaining competitions scheduled which includes a number of sevens rugby festivals and youth competitions in 2022. 
 
On the international scene Letts will be focusing on putting together and preparing the national team programs for a busy end of year. Both the men’s and women’s national sevens teams will be competing in the Asian Sevens Series with the 15s programs aiming to also be played in December 2022.
 
PRFU President Ada Milby is confident in the new structure and what lies ahead for Philippine Rugby. “Coming out the other end of a challenging couple of years due to the pandemic created an opportunity for us to review our organisational structure and see how we can operate more effectively and efficiently. I'm thankful for all the work Jake and Acee put in to keep operations moving forward during a very difficult season. Creating these two management roles capitalises on Acee and Jake's strengths and puts the Union in a better position to future proof our strategic and operational goals”.
 
In addition to San Juan and Letts, Lorie Baclagon will lead the finance and administration requirements and the Board of Trustees will continue to advise on strategical and management direction for rugby across the Philippines.
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