IT will be a tough week for the Philippines Volcanoes 15s squad that’s been named for the Asia Rugby Championships
Team skipper Oliver Saunders said their three games this week in Division 1 of the Asia Rugby Championships in Malaysia will be quite a challenge.
“We’re looking forward to the challenge next week,” said Saunders.
Their coming stint comes after a recently successful encounter against an experienced Singapore national team on April 22, when the Philippine Residents XV defeated the visitors, 29-17.
Nine players from that winning team earned a slot into the SPI Philippine Volcanoes National Men’s 15s team because of this.
“We have a squad of 25 players and we need every member to contribute,” said Saunders following a jersey presentation and sendoff last Wednesday in Taguig.
The Volcanoes are set to meet Sri Lanka on May 14, before taking on hosts Malaysia on May 17.
Their final game against a squad from the United Arab Emirates is slated on May 21 at Ipoh Padang Field in Ipoh, Malaysia.
Saunders said the team was able to get together for a training camp over the past 10 days to prepare for the difficult grind ahead.
Among the players chosen were Michael Estrada Duhig and Patrice Ortiz Olivier, who returning.
Among the new faces are Kevin Sysu Gordon in the centres and Gerald Zamora Tulud in the backrow.
Other new players making their debut are Ricky Kucia, Ned Plarizan Stephenson.
The rest includes Austin Garnica Dacanay, Aldrin Deposoy Mercado, Masayuki Sekiguchi, Michael Estrada Duhig, Philip Benares Abraham, David Paz Robinson-Polkey, Eric Cruz Erickson, Ray Conrad Laforteza and Steve Pagtalunan Howorth
They also included David Feeney,Ashley Matias Heward, Chris Anderson, Terrence Javier Carroll, Benjamin Priagola Mudie, Gerald Zamora Tulud and Edlen Cortez Hernandez