Rugby slide ‘just a phase’

Photo by Marc Reyes

Philippine Rugby Team member Lito Ramirez rued the fact that the country took a slide after dominating the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore.

But the 24-year-old first homegrown member of the Philippine Volcanoes assured fans that it’s just a phase.

“We had a big transition from the 2015 team because Philippine rugby wants to form a national team whose members were born, raised and learned the sport here,” said Ramirez Wednesday during the launch of the 2018 Manila 10s International Rugby Festival slated March 24 and 25 at San Lazaro Leisure Park.

He and several other Volcanoes will play for the 12 local clubs in the 26-team tournament that is considered to have given birth to the sport almost 30 years ago.

Organizing committee chief Clair Barberis hosted the presser at Cafe Curieux in Makati along with tournament director Max Stewart, tournament draw and seeding head David Feeney and San Lazaro Leisure Park official Eddie Arellano.

PH Volcanoes team captain Ada Milby, who was also in the affair, said they were batting for the inclusion of the sport when the Philippines hosts the SEA Games next year.

The tournament also serves as appetizer for the prestigious Hong Kong 7s slated a week after.