Volcanoes Team Named for Rugby World Cup 7s Qualifiers

The Philippine Volcanoes Rugby team will travel to Singapore to participate in the Rugby World Cup 7s Qualifiers on Nov 2-3. The team goes into the tournament on the back of some solid performances in the lead up tournaments, most notably, a win over the highly-ranked South Korean team in their final game of the recently-concluded Mumbai Sevens. The Volcanoes are ranked 6th going into the Singapore tournament and must finish in the top 3 if they are to progress to the World Cup in Moscow in 2013.

The Volcanoes have been boosted by the return of some of their players who are currently contracted to professional teams in the Japanese Top League. Oliver and Matt Saunders, Patrice Olivier and Gaz Holgate will all be present in Singapore along with the return of Ben Saunders who has just come off contract with a professional club in Sydney.

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Oliver Saunders (photo:Patrick Uy)

Matt Saunders (photo: Mark Cristino)

Patrice Olivier (photo: Mark Cristino)

Ben Saunders (photo: West Tigers)

Andrew Wolff (photo: Mumbai 7s)

Included in the squad are Andrew Wolff and Tim Bweheni, 2 players who play in the local Filipino league, and are being rewarded for their outstanding performances this year.

New coach Al Caravelli is confident of a top 3 finish even if the results so far this year have been a little shy of the mark. His insistence on getting the process right is starting to pay off with the team improving at each outing. 

Volcanoes 7s captain Harry Morris is happy with the mixture of experience and youth in the squad saying that this team is fully capable of qualifying for the World Cup if we play to our true potential.

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Philippine Volcanoes Rugby World Cup 7s Qualifiers Squad:

Tim Bweheni (Alabang Eagles, Philippines)
Ryan Clarke (Canley Vale Cub, Sydney)
Gaz Holgate (Kyuden Rugby Club, Japan)
Joe Matthews (Wests Rugby Cub, Canberra)
Luke Matthews (Wests Rugby Club, Canberra)
Harry Morris (Rosslyn Park, England)
Patrice Olivier (Yamaha Rugby Club, Japan)
Kenny Stern (Gordon Rugby Club, Sydney)
Ben Saunders (Wests Tigers, Sydney)
Matt Saunders (NTT Communications, Japan)
Oli Saunders (NTT Communications, Japan)
Andrew Wolff (Alabang Eagles, Philippines)

Al Caravelli (Coach)
Expo Mejia (Manager)
Enrico Barin (Physiotherapist)