Rugby 7's World Cup

[WhiteBloodAda]

I'm gutted the Volcanoes didn't get in the same group as England, but from a Pinoy point of view, they couldn't have asked for a better group! Zimbabwe are there for the taking big time, Kenya will be tough especially with their recent success in 7's, and Samoa may end up hurting, but all in all that's as easy as it comes! Looking forward to seeing how the Philippines cope, and how the game continues to develop so rapidly too

[jake]

"Rugby is a game played by men with odd shaped balls"
I know old joke!
The game of rugby wont develop in the Philippines as the government pays little attention to sports development of any kind. There are a lack of any type of organized sports here, except maybe basketball and even then its not run properly.

Hope the volcanoes do well and remember the lyrics to the national anthem!

[WhiteBloodAda]

Although the Government aren't doing anything, it is noticeable that the popularity of the sport is attempting all it can to take off itself. From a sport that was unheard of going into 2012, suddenly lots of Filipinos have heard of it. I was lucky to be there as they hosted the Asia 5 nations Division 1 championship last year, and introduced Ruby's family into the sport. (I'd already converted Ruby, pretty easily infact, while she was here). Now not only does her family love rugby, but their friends are warming to it too, and that will continue to grow. In 8 years of playing international rugby, the Philippines have risen to the top group of Asia, have a chance to qualify for the World Cup here in England in 2015, have qualified for the 7's world cup this year, and look very likely to be present at the Olympics in Rio when Rugby 7's makes it's debut there in 2016. In Asia, only Japan has a better record in international rugby as they have never lost to an Asian opponent.

The development could do with financial backing from the government, but the work the expats from UK, Oz, and NZ are doing, has been pretty amazing. Add to that, the entire squad has Filipino blood in it now. A long way to go yet, but still an amazing rise from nothing, and hopefully in years to come, a true challenge to Basketball as the national sport