http://www.irbsevens.com/News/050623+SL+SEA+games.htm
SEA Games welcomes Rugby Sevens
23 APRIL 2005
The Philippine Olympic Committee has confirmed that the Philippine Rugby Football Union can, for the first time, run a Rugby Sevens tournament as a Site Sport in conjunction with the South East Asian (SEA) Games later this year.
The move gives rugby Sevens the chance to shine in another multi-sport environment, having already proved a successful core ingredient of the Commonwealth Games, the Asian Games and the World Games.
The news is a further boost ahead of 8 July, when the IOC members will vote on whether the sporting programme of the 2012 Olympic Games will be changed to incorporate new sports, of which rugby is a shortlisted contender.
Reaction from the SEA participating unions has also been positive and teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia are expected to take part in the two-day tournament, which is due to run on 3 December.
Meanwhile, it has also been agreed to expand the next Asian Rugby Football Tournament (ARFT) in Sri Lanka in November 2006 from 12 teams to a maximum of 18, opening the door for smaller nations such as the Philippines.
http://www.myph.com.ph/myph_at_leisure.htm
Games: Basketball out, rugby in
About 7,000 athletes from 11 countries are on their way to the Philippines to participate in the 23rd Southeast Asian Games which begin on November 27. A total of 441 gold medals are at stake in 41 events.
In a dramatic turnaround by Philippine standards, however, basketball will not be in the program for the first time ever – and rugby will be a part of the SEA Games for the first time.
Basketball-crazy Philippines has yanked the sport from the upcoming Games for the first time in the history of the bi-annual sports event. The Philippine Olympic Committee has canceled hoops after failing to secure backing from the International Basketball Federation.
The loss of the country’s favorite sport follows months of infighting and political bickering among the sport’s local administrators. FIBA in June banned the Philippine team from tournaments it sanctions after the POC expelled the local Basketball Association of the Philippines, the sole member association recognized by the world sporting body.
POC chairman Roberto Aventajado said the expulsion of the BAP is meant to pave the way for reorganization of the country's basketball program, after poor performances of national teams in past international tournaments.
Mr Aventajado said the BAP has failed to spur the growth of basketball, considered a national sport in this former American colony. "From a powerhouse 20 years ago, we are now cellar-dwellers. Countries which we used to beat easily have been beating us by over 40 or 60 points."
However, the upcoming SEA Games represent the official arrival of rugby at the SEA Games. The seven-a-side version of rugby will be played in Manila over the weekend of December 3-4 after the POC have the go-ahead for the Philippine Rugby Football Union to run a rugby sevens tournament as a site sport.
Rugby teams from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos and Cambodia are expected to take part in the two-day tournament. The Philippines has the largest contingent with 743 competing athletes.
The Philippine government authorities have promised extra tight security around all Games venues – which are spread out in several cities - as a precaution against possible terrorist attacks. Even the possibility of bird flu is being looked at, and all arriving athletes will be specially screened against the deadly virus.
Information: http://www.2005seagames.com.ph website.
Quote from one of the Local Filipino Rugby players watching the SEA Rugby 7s match
"The Philippines Rugby Football Union Filipino side team played their first international match at the Nomads Sport Complex in Merville. They were the selection chosen to play 7's a side rugby. Their opponents were the national team of Indonesia. They were generally bigger than the Philippine team, but everyone heard the Philippine team in a room yelling and rallying themselves. They came out to the field with the Filipino flag and stood shoulder to shoulder and sang the Filipino national anthem.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I was a bit nervous, since the National team was created and trained in only 6 weeks, whilst the Indonesian team has been training for 18 months for their first international rugby match. And, most of the Indonesians have been playing for years, while there were only about 4 experienced rugby players on the Philippine team that either have played in other countries during high school and adult level, and two professional rugby players from Australia. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Philippines had a convincing win over their opponents from Indonesia, 32-5".
