Philippine National Teams
The Philippines are not ranked as a national team as they have not played the statutory ten games necessary to calculate their points.
That said, they have a respectable record in the eight international games they have played since 2006 winning six of them.
Over the last four years the make-up of the team has changed dramatically from being comprised mainly of expatriates eligible through three years of residency to there now being a preponderance of overseas-based players of Philippine heritage. The power of the World Wide Web and some first-rate networking by the PRFU’s Australian representative Erick Elefante has seen the arrival in Manila of players residing in Wales, Italy, Canada, Hong Kong, USA, England and Australia.
The Philippine National Team 2009
This new crop of young men raised all over the world have immediately connected with their country of origin and quickly gelled into a team which make formidable opponents.
In July 2009 the Philippines became champions of the Asian 5 Nations Division 3 tournament and were promoted to Division 2 for the 2010 season where they will face Thailand, India and China.
Widespread work is now underway to bring locally trained players up to the standard where they will be competing for positions in the 2010 national squad.
The seven-a-side game is where the Philippines feel they could be very competitive on a regional front. The national team competed with distinction at the 2007 South East Asian Games and overcame far more established rugby nations such as Malaysia to take the silver medal after a close fought final with hosts Thailand.
In November 2008 the Philippine Under 20s narrowly missed out on promotion to Division One after one win and one loss against Guam in the Asian Championships. The Philippines last visit to this tournament in 2006 (was then Under 19s) saw them win all three games to top Division Two.
The future certainly looks bright for the Sons of Lapu Lapu
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Image Courtesy of PRFU
Philippine National Team Results Philippine National Team Profiles
