MANILA, Philippines - An Australian development team composed of players from its indigenous communities spices up the 23rd Manila 10s International Rugby Festival set March 17-18 at the Nomad Sports Club at Merville Park Subd. in Parañaque City.
The Aussies’ campaign is sponsored by Australian mining firm Xstrata Copper, major shareholder of Sagittarius Mines Inc. (SMI). Xstrata supports the Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team (LMRDT) and the Australian Rugby Union in promoting the sport of rugby among young Australian men and women of indigenous background.
The Manila 10s drew 32 teams last year, three of them from Australia with the Philippines fielding the most number of teams with 11 and Hong Kong the biggest foreign contingent with six teams. The Welsh Warriors of the United Kingdom won the Cup Division.
Before its stint in the Manila 10s, the SMI Team and LMRDT will conduct a coaching session and rugby clinic on Friday for the underprivileged children of Tuloy Foundation, also supported by the Philippine Rugby Football Union. It will be held at the Tuloy sa Don Bosco Streetchildren Village at the Alabang-Zapote Road cor. San Jose Village in Alabang, Muntinlupa.