THE 28th Manila 10s International Rugby Festival unfurls its biggest, toughest competition yet with more than 36 teams, including top clubs from New Zealand and other rugby powers, plunging into action from March 18 to 20 at the Nomads Sports Club in Parañaque City.
North Harbour, New Zealand’s top side, raises the quality of competition in this year’s hostilities, leading foreign clubs from Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia Indonesia, UK, Japan, Australia and the US.
Members of the Philippine Volcanoes suit up for various local clubs while the Philippine Under-14 and Under 16 teams, fresh from medal-winning performances in a Bangkok tournament, also strut their stuff in the two-day tournament, which features three divisions.
Local clubs come from all over the country such as Davao, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod, Pampanga, Subic and Laguna.
“This will draw top attendance of over 36 teams, including two youth teams and we estimate a crowd of around 5,000 there,” Rick Santos, president of the Philippine Rugby Football Union and team owner of the Mavericks, said during yesterday’s PSA Forum.
Dubbed by ESPN as the “best social rugby tournament in the world” the Manila 10s is presented and hosted annually by the Manila Nomads Sports Club in partnership with the PRFU and ANZCHAM Philippines.
“This is the first time the U-14 and U-16 will be taking part; this will be the first time the top side in New Zealand is coming; and this will be the toughest, most interesting and most social edition of the Manila 10s,” said Santos.
Volcanoes veterans Kenneth Stern and Alex Aronson and Lito Ramirez, the first homegrown player to make the roster of the national team coming out of the PRFU’s grassroots program, were also present in the forum and all expressed excitement to play under the Mavericks banner in the tourney.
Activities commence on Mar. 18 with a kick-off lunch attended by team members, partners and PRFU officials. Matches fire off the next day with the finals and the stint of the youth teams wrapping up the exciting action on March 20.
