The Philippine Volcanoes are getting ready to compete in the 2019 Division 1 Asia Rugby Men’s Championships in Taipei today May 29 and on June 1.
Jake Letts, the General Manager for Philippine Rugby Football Union, said this after the Volcanoes completed a 9-day intensive training camp.
Their Head Coach Stu Woodhouse has selected the touring team for the Volcanoes, who left for Taiwan yesterday.
The tournament starts today at the Taipei Municipal Stadium.
According to Letts, the coaching staff have had the tough task of selecting the Top 26 to travel. The present batch has a mix of experience, youth.
There will be a total of 10 players who will have the opportunity to wear the national colors for the first time in this program.
One of them is debutante Tim Alonso Berry, who is a new addition to the 7s program and after also playing with the 15s team.
The Volcanoes are expecting a physical match up first against an experienced Sri Lankan team.
The seeding will be a testament to see how far the Volcanoes can rise in 2019.
Sri Lanka is 44 on the world rankings while the Philippines is currently at 53.