The Rugby World Cup has finally come to the Asian continent for the very first time and Asia Rugby has embarked on a quest to dramatically increase its rugby population by an additional 1 million new participants (A1M project).
Working together with World Rugby and the RWC 2019 Impact Beyond legacy programme, Asia Rugby is currently unleashing a barrage of rugby-related events that include a tour of the Webb Ellis Cup, various sports clinics and many more.
Last Aug. 6, an exhibition game between the New Zealand Mangatainoka Barbarians and the Manila Barbarians aiming to promote the rugby sport was held at the International School Manila. It coincided with the Philippine Rugby Football Union’s project called “Rugby- A Sport For All” that offers equal opportunities to the country’s youths and increase participation in the sport.
Alongside the exhibition match, New Zealand ambassador David Strachan handed over a cheque for P800,000 to the PRFU for this project.
“Whenever someone thinks of New Zealand, rugby and the All Blacks come to mind. We are delighted to share this passion with young Filipinos with the help of the Philippine Rugby Football Union. It is an honor for New Zealand to support the development of rugby in the Philippines,” said Ambassador Strachan.
Currently, Asia Rugby’s membership spans a vast territory from Mongolia in the north to Indonesia in the south and Lebanon in the west to Guam in the east and all their activities lead up to the Rugby World Cup Japan 2019.