RUGBY chief Ada Milby was proud of the golden double attained by the Philippine Volcanoes men’s and women’s squads in the just-concluded Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy tournament in Kathmandu, Nepal over the weekend.
“We are immensely proud of both our women’s and men’s teams for their performances and dedication,” Milby, the Philippine Rugby Football Union president, said.
“Winning double gold at the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy is a historic achievement for Philippine Rugby, and it reflects the hard work of the athletes, coaches, and support staff to make it happen,” she added.
The men’s Volcanoes, mentored by Samoan Darryl Suasua, swept their matches, capped by a 27-12 romp over Chinese-Taipei in the finals.
This feat was duplicated by the women’s Volcanoes, with Hong Kong native Samantha Scott at the helm, climaxed by a thrilling 7-5 win over Sri Lanka on a last-minute penalty award.
Their achievements enabled both squads to get promoted back to Division 1 in both categories in 2025 and augurs well for the country’s preparations for the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games when rugby sevens returns as a medal sport.
“We are excited to see the continued growth and success of rugby in the Philippines,” Milby, a member of the women’s squad that bagged the silver medal in the 2019 Philippine SEA Games, noted.
