Volcanoes fail to break world Top 50

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines failed to dislodge Malaysia as the top Southeast Asian side in the rugby world rankings after settling for third in the Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament that the Malaysians won at home over the weekend.

In the latest list released by the World Rugby this week, the Volcanoes remained stagnant from their previous ranking of 57th overall whereas the Malaysians surged eight places up and breached the Top 50 at 47th.

Malaysia earned 1.76 ratings points in its title-clinching 22-9 rout of Sri Lanka and its previous 40-8 win over the Phl Volcanoes in the four-country ARC meet, eventually posting the biggest climb in the period. As Division 1 rulers, the Malaysians also kept their bid to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup alive.

Phl XV maintained its No. 2 position among Asean countries ahead of Singapore, which stood two spots behind at 59th. Thailand and Indonesia ranked 80th and 99th, respectively.

The Volcanoes couldn’t really explode in the ARC Division 1 held in Ipoh, Malaysia, dropping their first two games to Sri Lanka and Malaysia and getting hit by injuries.

However, the Pinoy ruggers managed to finish the tourney on a high note, beating United Arab Emirates 34-26, in the process finishing No. 3 and keeping their spot in Division 1.

“It’s been a tight campaign, we’re so happy to finish on a high and secure third place,” Volcanoes stalwart Austin Garnica Dacanay said.