By MARK REY MONTEJO
The Philippine men’s rugby team caught fire early and shocked defending champion Singapore, 37-20, in the 2025 Unions Cup at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan Wednesday, July 9.
Competing in the event for the first time, the Volcanoes showed no fear and hesitation as they surged to a commanding 20-8 advantage, what with their blinding speed and brilliant tactical maneuvers to win pulling away.
With the win, the Volcanoes arranged a title showdown with the Thais who pulled off a 20-19 thriller over host Chinese Taipei in the opener of the premier 15-a-side senior men’s rugby meet.
“This is a significant tournament for our program,” said Philippine Rugby Football Union president Ada Milby prior to the competition.“Test matches like these are crucial for developing our players and building a strong future for 15s rugby in the Philippines.”
“As the first test match since 2019, we’re proud to see our men’s team competing on this stage and look forward to showcasing the heart, discipline, and resilience that define Philippine Rugby,” he added.
The Unions Cup was launched last year with the aim of strengthening the sport
across the Asian region.
The Philippine Volcanoes are composed of team captain Kai Kristian Stroem, vice skipper Craig Wallace, Thomas Reyes, James Ryan, Lawrence Reboso, Kian Mulholland, Dylan Davies, Christopher Flores, Edlen Hernandez, Hamis Seddon, Vincent Young, Judd Greenhalgh, Ned Stephenson, Michael Blatchies, and Patrice Olivier.
Other members of the Josh Sutcliffe-mentored team are Fausto Eizmendi, Ken Mellorin, JM Cardenas, Mathew Bellenie, Connor Browne, Johnathan Greenwood, Kohei Mitsuhashi, and Jovan Masalunga.
