Philippines gains Full IRB Membership

The Philippines Rugby Football Union were granted full IRB membership at the IRB Council Meeting that was conducted in Ireland on Tuesday, 25 November 2008. This is the end result of two years as an IRB associate member and the PRFU's dilgence in working to successfully meet all the IRB criteria to apply to become full members.

Over the last four years, the Philippine national rugby union teams have set exceptionally high standards in international competitions in the men's 15s, men's 7s and under-20 divisions. The successes of these national teams has enabled the sport of Rugby Union to gain full recognition by both the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission. In particular, the Philippine National Men's 7s team who won the Silver Medal at the last South East Asian Games and the Men's 15s National Team winning elevation to the Division 3 Category of the A5 Nations, have allowed the sport of rugby union to become a nationally accredited sport. Recently the Philippines also hosted the Division 2 Asian Rugby Football Union under-20s Tournament here in Manila and have applied to host the Division 3 A5 Nations International Men's Tournament in July 2009.

The sport of Rugby Football Union definitely has the potential to grow and succeed here in the Philippines and the elevation to full IRB membership status will now allow the PRFU to ensure that Rugby Football Union can be developed at all levels of the community, particularly focusing on the junior divisions and the Philippine National Military and Police Forces. National Team Coach Matt Cullen truly believes that the Philippines can and will be successful in the sport of Rugby Football Union and explains that Filipinos are gifted at this sport because they possess natural talents including speed, agility, coordination, strength, endurance and a unique sense of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Gaining full membership to the IRB now allows the PRFU to focus on developing the sport of Rugby Football Union throughout the Philippines. This will aid in implementing training programs, purchasing equipment and kit , running educational courses and staging tournaments to help promote the sport of Rugby Football Union to reach new heights.

The success of gaining full membership to the IRB is the culmination of eight years of dedicated work by all members involved in the PRFU who have generously given their time, efforts and sometimes even their bodies to promote, play and develop the sport of Rugby Football Union here in the Philippines. There are a number of unsung heroes who have had a hand in this process and the PRFU truly appreciates all that has been done, both on and off the field, by all members of the Filipino Rugby Football Union community. Without your contributions we certainly could not have achieved this milestone.

Christmas has come early in the Philippines for the PRFU and we wish everyone all the best for the Holiday Season.

Know that the PRFU will hit the ground running, so start training and we'll see you on the pitch in 2009.