Volcanoes primed for battle

The Philippines has participated in men’s rugby 7s in only two of seven Asian Games, finishing fifth in 2014 and ninth in 2022. But the Volcanoes, coming off a bronze finish in last year’s SEA Games and back-to-back Unions Cup championships, are aiming for a record performance at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on Oct. 1-3.

Six players from the 2022 Asian Games are on coach Josh Sutcliffe’s roster for the coming competition. The holdovers are captain Kai Ledesma Stroem, 28, Tommy Gilbert, 30, Donald Coleman, 28, Raph Barberis, 25, Luc Smith, 25 and Rob Fogerty, 29. Others on the squad are Charles Warren, 23, Jacob Soriano, 29, Ned Stephenson, 34, Harrison Blake, 32, Michael Blatteis, 26, Jason Schirmer, 25 and Edlen Hernandez, 36. The lineup is loaded with veterans. Nine players were on the last SEA Games team and five were on the 15s brigade that won the Unions Cup in Thailand last July.

Rugby 15s and 7s were both played at the Asian Games in 1998 and 2002 but starting 2006, the calendar only booked 7s (an Olympic sport since 2016). In the SEA Games, the 7s game was played in 2007, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2025 with the Philippines claiming two golds (2015, 2019), silver (2007) and bronze (2025). The 15s game features 15 players (eight forwards, seven backs) and two 40-minute halves while the 7s game has seven players (three forwards, four backs) and two seven-minute halves, sometimes extended to two 10-minute halves for the final. The 7s game is described as more physically demanding than the 15s because there are less players on the same field size, meaning more running, more action and more scoring opportunities.

Philippine Rugby Football Union national team director Steve Mommaerts notes that since 2004, the sport has organically grown locally to include over 1,000 locally-born players. “The PRFU started as a union made up of foreigners but is now 99 percent local players,” he adds. “Many of those players come from lower income situations with the same passion for the game as those from other backgrounds. Rugby creates an environment where everyone is an equal part of the team. The sport is growing here and looking for more exposure. We’re now preparing for the Asian Games and our team will include both local and Philippine heritage players. We’re inviting corporate sponsors to join us in our journey,” Ada Milby is the PRFU president and Lorie Baclagon is the operations manager. Milby recently announced that Manila will host the Unions Cup and Women’s 15s next year.

Asian Games and SEA Games veteran Barberis, who started playing rugby at six, is looking forward to Nagoya. “Philippine rugby has given me so much over the years and I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent the country once more in a different team environment,” he says. “I strongly feel that the values from rugby – the camaraderie, relentless attitude to win – apply to all parts of our lives. My dad was a no-nonsense coach whose approach shaped me as a player. My mom and sister are a massive support system and my teammates are also an inspiration, keeping me honest and getting me to play above myself.” There are 12 competing rugby 7s teams in Nagoya. The Volcanoes play Sri Lanka and United Arab Emirates on Oct. 1 then Singapore the next day. The playoffs begin on Oct. 2 with the medal matches on Oct. 3.