THE Volcanoes’ (in blue jerseys) solid play “set a platform for the backline against Chinese Taipei.” JOAN BONDOC
A victory six years in the making.
That was how Philippine Volcanoes coach Matt Cullen called the national rugby sevens team’s conquest in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games.
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Winning the gold medal in the men’s division and the bronze in the women’s event, Cullen believes that with the strong showing of the country in the biennial meet, the Philippines has a decent chance to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics.
“Rugby sevens wasn’t played in 2009 until this year so we had to wait for six years in the SEA Games. Now, (rugby sevens) is in the Olympics and we believe we have a chance to make it there,” he said in the weekly PSA Forum in Shakey’s Malate.
Cullen said that the grind for the Olympics began just last week as the team braces for the tough schedule ahead.
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The Volcanoes will compete in the Asian Sevens Series which will make stops in Shanghai for the China Sevens from September 6 to 7, in Bangkok for Thailand Sevens from September 26 to 27 and in Colombo for the Sri Lanka Sevens from October 10 to 11.
Then they will go to Hong Kong from November 5 to 6 for the 2015 Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) Men’s Sevens Championship where they top team will earn a spot in the Olympics.
“Our chances of qualifying is very high. We have a very good chance. It’s not always about the size. We have players who can compete,” said Volcanoes team captain Jake Letts.
If the country, though, does not finish first in the Asian qualifiers, the Volcanoes still have a chance to make it to Rio via the final men’s qualifying tournament.
Set for a later date, the second to fourth placers in the Asian tourney will make up the 16-team pool of runner-ups from other qualifying tourneys that will play a round-robin format, with the winner earning a spot in the Olympics.
Cullen is optimistic of the team’s chances, saying that after Japan and Hong Kong, the Philippines is next in the top teams in Asia when it comes to rugby sevens.
“We’re definite that we’re getting the top four. We’re confident that we can get to the next stage,” he said.