Report by ERIK ELEFANTE – Two Filipino-Australian heritage Rugby League teams will play in the Internatioanal 9s Rugby League tournament in the small fishing town of San Narciso in Zambales province in the Philippines on October 19.
Originally scheduled to be played at Remy field , Clark Airbase , the tournament was moved to the grounds of the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso in Zambales because the event coincided with the Philippine-US Amphibious Landing Exercises code-named PHIBLEX.
The Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) is grateful for the help and generosity of Admiral Richard U. Ritual of PMMA for allowing the tournament to be scheduled at the Academy, rechristening the tournament the Zambales Interntional 9s!
Coming to Zambales will be Filipino-Australian teams Cebu City Chiefs, captained by Philippine National Rugby League (PNRL) Board member Rene Payne, made up of players with mostly Visayan heritage and the Clark Crusaders, captained by Pampangan, ‘Johno’ Reyes made up of players with Luzon heritage.
These two Filipino-Australian teams will face two local Philippine Rugby teams from the Merchant Marine Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MMAAP) namely current MMAAP cadets now known as MAAP Warriors and a group of MAAP graduated cadets now called MAAP Kings. It should be noted that MMAAP cadets who were first introduced in 2002 in the sports of Rugby Union have adapted to the Rugby League code some years later.
Other teams competing were the students of Don Bosco Technical Institue from Makati and the cadets and employees of maritime company Anscorswire Ship Management plus the new entry coming from the Cardiff Crewing Filipinas Inc, who will all compete in the non-contact touch football component of the tournament.
Also making their very proud debut in their own Academy will be the cadets of PMMA who were introduced to Rugby League last June, by Tom Simpson and David Perry who are itching to finally get to play their first games of what is known as the, “The Greatest Game of All”.
Also on show on the day is the future of the sport of Rugby League in the Philippines. With the children of fishing families of La Paz beach the San Narciso Juniors Rugby League team playing exhibition touch football matches all day!
Those who happen to be in the Philippine and wanting to come and experience the sport of Rugby League come along to PMMA in San Narciso, Zambales. Kicks off at 9:00AM and will go on all day and into the late afternoon with admission being free to the tournament.
For more information on the Rugby League in the Philippines go to our website www.pnrlf.com
About PNRL The Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) is the governing body of Rugby League Football in the Philippines. Its mission is to enable all Filipinos to have a healthy lifestyle through their participation in Rugby League Football and to be competitive amongst the Asian Rugby League playing nations. The PNRL focus is the promotion, development and efficient administration of Rugby League in the Philippines. The PNRL is a non-stock, Non-profit Volunteer organization. The Philippines is an observer member of both the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC) and the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).