Post by cjeagle on Mar 4, 2012 0:49:49 GMT 8
Rugby's 'billboard boys' make next big leap
THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco (The Philippine Star) Updated March 03, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments
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Starting this month there will be a palpable jump in the performance of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) Volcanoes, building on the momentum of last year’s great strides throughout Asia. The team’s exploits notwithstanding, they received a huge push in popularity with the controversy stirred by their huge billboard underwear ads for a local clothing manufacturer last year. On the field though, the Philippines, now number two in the region next to Japan, will be hosting two major international tournaments within the next few months. But before that, even more good news.
For the first time, the Philippine men’s team has been invited to the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in three weeks’ time. Ironically, last year the Lady Volcanoes became the first Filipino national team to get invited, winning one of their three matches.
“We finished among the top teams in the Asian Men’s Championship in 2011, not too many people know that,” says head coach Matt Cullen. “And because of that, the Philippines was invited. It’s a great honor.”
The Hong Kong Sevens is the most prestigious tournament in Asia, and features some of the best teams in the world, such as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This is a dream for many of the players who have been toiling in relative obscurity compared to their more famous cousins, the Azkals.
“It’s unbelievable,” admits team captain Jake Letts. “For the boys to just be invited, it’s an opportunity we won’t waste. We’ve been working very hard, and the program is starting to produce the results.”
Over the last five years, the Philippines has been climbing up the ladder of the Asian Five Nations and other tournaments, and this year, broke the top 50 in the world. The International Rugby Board has taken notice of how the country has overtaken more experienced nations like China and the latest regional giant to fall at the Volcanoes’ feet, Korea. The success has been due to the great chemistry among the players, both homegrown and Fil-foreign. But the family-oriented culture of the Philippines has also given us another secret weapon.
“In 2010, the Philippine team had four pairs of brothers, which must be some sort of world record,” Cullen adds. “This team going to Hong Kong has three pairs of brothers. Four of our players are playing professionally nearby in Japan, and the players in the pool all treat each other like brothers. It’s amazing.”
Granted, Hong Kong will be a big challenge. In the round-robin groupings, the Philippines is bracketed in Pool D with Canada, Spain and Zimbabwe. The Volcanoes play the Canadians on March 23, then the Spaniards in the morning of the 24th, and wrap up their assignments against the Zimbabweans in the afternoon. It’s a tall order, but Cullen has a knowing smile on his face going in, eyeing a possible emotionally satisfying upset win over the country’s former colonizers, Spain.
“The Hong Kong Sevens traditionally, is full of surprises. There’s always an upset,” Cullen adds. “With the team we have, we could pull off a surprise.”
“It is just a great feeling knowing we’ll be going in with the entire Philippines behind us,” says past captain Chris Everingham, who gained a boost of fame as the principal model in the notorious underwear billboards along EDSA that caused a sensation last year. “We’ll definitely be giving it our all, no doubt about it.”
After Hong Kong, the Volcanoes will be back at home to host Level 1 of the Asian Five Nations tournament. They’ve already beaten the countries that will be coming over. If they sweep the tournament, the country gets promoted to the Elite Level, where they will finally get a chance to try and topple Japan. After the A5N comes the Asian Women’s Championship, which the Volcanoes will also host.
In the meantime, the PRFU is completing a brand-new facility in Canlubang, Laguna, and negotiating with a city in Metro Manila for a home pitch. Remember, the top two teams in Asia earn an invitation to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Those are the ultimate goals.
www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=783260&publicationsubcategoryid=69
________________________
Can somebody tell how the PRFU is constructing their own facilities while the PFF is not making any plans of building their own facilities, practice or otherwise?
THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco (The Philippine Star) Updated March 03, 2012 12:00 AM Comments (0) View comments
SHARE: facebook share facebook yahoo buzz yahoo! buzz
Starting this month there will be a palpable jump in the performance of the Philippine Rugby Football Union (PRFU) Volcanoes, building on the momentum of last year’s great strides throughout Asia. The team’s exploits notwithstanding, they received a huge push in popularity with the controversy stirred by their huge billboard underwear ads for a local clothing manufacturer last year. On the field though, the Philippines, now number two in the region next to Japan, will be hosting two major international tournaments within the next few months. But before that, even more good news.
For the first time, the Philippine men’s team has been invited to the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens in three weeks’ time. Ironically, last year the Lady Volcanoes became the first Filipino national team to get invited, winning one of their three matches.
“We finished among the top teams in the Asian Men’s Championship in 2011, not too many people know that,” says head coach Matt Cullen. “And because of that, the Philippines was invited. It’s a great honor.”
The Hong Kong Sevens is the most prestigious tournament in Asia, and features some of the best teams in the world, such as Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. This is a dream for many of the players who have been toiling in relative obscurity compared to their more famous cousins, the Azkals.
“It’s unbelievable,” admits team captain Jake Letts. “For the boys to just be invited, it’s an opportunity we won’t waste. We’ve been working very hard, and the program is starting to produce the results.”
Over the last five years, the Philippines has been climbing up the ladder of the Asian Five Nations and other tournaments, and this year, broke the top 50 in the world. The International Rugby Board has taken notice of how the country has overtaken more experienced nations like China and the latest regional giant to fall at the Volcanoes’ feet, Korea. The success has been due to the great chemistry among the players, both homegrown and Fil-foreign. But the family-oriented culture of the Philippines has also given us another secret weapon.
“In 2010, the Philippine team had four pairs of brothers, which must be some sort of world record,” Cullen adds. “This team going to Hong Kong has three pairs of brothers. Four of our players are playing professionally nearby in Japan, and the players in the pool all treat each other like brothers. It’s amazing.”
Granted, Hong Kong will be a big challenge. In the round-robin groupings, the Philippines is bracketed in Pool D with Canada, Spain and Zimbabwe. The Volcanoes play the Canadians on March 23, then the Spaniards in the morning of the 24th, and wrap up their assignments against the Zimbabweans in the afternoon. It’s a tall order, but Cullen has a knowing smile on his face going in, eyeing a possible emotionally satisfying upset win over the country’s former colonizers, Spain.
“The Hong Kong Sevens traditionally, is full of surprises. There’s always an upset,” Cullen adds. “With the team we have, we could pull off a surprise.”
“It is just a great feeling knowing we’ll be going in with the entire Philippines behind us,” says past captain Chris Everingham, who gained a boost of fame as the principal model in the notorious underwear billboards along EDSA that caused a sensation last year. “We’ll definitely be giving it our all, no doubt about it.”
After Hong Kong, the Volcanoes will be back at home to host Level 1 of the Asian Five Nations tournament. They’ve already beaten the countries that will be coming over. If they sweep the tournament, the country gets promoted to the Elite Level, where they will finally get a chance to try and topple Japan. After the A5N comes the Asian Women’s Championship, which the Volcanoes will also host.
In the meantime, the PRFU is completing a brand-new facility in Canlubang, Laguna, and negotiating with a city in Metro Manila for a home pitch. Remember, the top two teams in Asia earn an invitation to the 2015 Rugby World Cup and the 2016 Olympics. Those are the ultimate goals.
www.philstar.com/sportsarticle.aspx?articleid=783260&publicationsubcategoryid=69
________________________
Can somebody tell how the PRFU is constructing their own facilities while the PFF is not making any plans of building their own facilities, practice or otherwise?