Want to join the Philippine Volcanoes?

Time to represent the Philippines!

Rugby is a very young sport here in the Philippines but it has been gaining popularity in recent months. From a sport mostly played by expats, more and more Filipinos are loving the sport. The Philippine National Rugby team named Philippine Volcanoes is among the emerging teams in the Asian region. The Volcanoes recently captured Asian Five Nations Division One championship plum by beating higher seeded squads.

For the Glory!

The Philippine Rugby Football Union is actually for players who want represent the count in various categories.  They are looking for players for the following programs:

• Boys Under 18s
  
• Mens Under 20s
  
• Mens 7s
  
• Mens 15s
  
• Womens 7s
  
• Womens 15s

If you think you have what it takes then click here and sign-up!  Anybody can join, even Filipinos based abroad specially those who have some training in Rugby in countries like Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, and France. Local players are also much welcome because PRFU needs more players to promote the sport. Since it is for the national team, players must either be Filipino passport holders or at least have some Filipino blood.

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New Zealand All Blacks captures 2011 Rugby World Cup

Eden Park, Auckland – The 2011 Rugby World Cup finals was a repeat of the 1987 finals held at the same stadium. The winner is still New Zealand. The score 8-7 over France. For many rugby fans, it has been a long wait for the beloved All-Blacks to take another title. The 24 year drought has ended and new Zealand is back at the top.

New Zealand went ahead 5-0 after a magnificent try by prop Tony Woodcock. He took the ball from Flanker Jerome Kaino. Piri Weepu missed the conversion. There were no other scores in the first half. In the second half when France was trying to catch up, reserve fly half Stephen Donald became a hero as he scored on a penalty in the 46th minute for an 8-0 lead.  Donald was not picked in New Zealand’s original squad and he was in the game because of injuries to key players.

The game was not over though, as France did not roll over easily as team captain Thierry Dusautoir scored a try and rançois Trinh-Duc converted to narrow the gap to just 1 point. The All-Blacks defense took care of the rest to prevent France getting into a favorable position. New Zealand held on to earn the long-awaited title. As a consolation Thierry Dusautoir was picked as man of the match.

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2011 Rugby World Cup Semifinals: All-Blacks trounce Wallabies 20-6 for a spot in the finals

Image via Wikipedia

Some people call it the true championship match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Well, if it’s true then the New Zealand All Blacks can sing “We are the Champions!” already as they gave Australia a massive beatdown, 20-6, in their semifinal draw. Starting with a fierce haka, the All-blacks were all business in the first half as they grab the lead, 14-6, at the end of the opening half of play. The second half was no different as the Kiwis just held the Aussies in their territory for much of the final half.

It was comforting for the All-Blacks to play at Eden Park, where the men of Gold and Green have never beaten the All-Blacks since 1986. It was the first time though in World Cup history that New Zealand beat Australia. They will now try to use the home court advantage to the hilt in the finals.

The finals will pit New Zealand against France. It is a rematch of the first ever Rugby World Cup finals. In 1987, the finals was played at Eden Park, where the All-Blacks gave France a neat rugby lesson with a score of 29-9 for their first and only World Cup title. Incidentally, the 3rd place match was between winners Wales and Australia.

It is like 1987 all over again and the hosts would wish for the same results. France has finished in second place every 12 years and 2011 is 12 years from their last runner-up finish. We will find out if history will repeat itself next week. For now, Congrats New Zealand!!!!

Scores:

NEW ZEALAND 20 (Ma’a Nonu try Piri Weepu 4 pens Aaron Cruden drop goal) bt AUSTRALIA 6 (James O’Connor pen Quade Cooper drop goal)

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2011 Rugby World Cup Semifinals: France makes it to the final with the help of a red card

Image by Sum_of_Marc via Flickr

16 years after the last time they made it to the finals, France has once again reached the final game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. They have beaten unlucky Wales, 9-8. Wales were dominating France early in the game until referee Allain Rolland decided to raise the red card after Welsh captain Sam Warburton made an aggressive tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

Wales fought hard but the man advantage was just what France needed. Wales made France miss and their tackling was sure until they lost their captain. Still, France just led by 3 at the half, 6-3.

In the second half, France preferred to play safe instead taking advantage of the lack of manpower of their opponent. With a 9-3 deficit, the Welsh side tried so had to penetrate the Blue wall. Their efforts were somehow rewarded when halfback Mike Philips made a courageous try to close the gap at 9-8.

There were many more chances for Wales but they ran out of time. Many fans felt that the Welsh side was more deserving but in the end, it is France that will be in the finals for the third time.

Scores:

France 9 (Morgan Parra 3 pens) Wales 8 (Mike Phillips try; James Hook pen). HT: 6-3.

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Quarterfinal Results

Image by rob.masefield via Flickr

The 2011 Rugby World Cup is now down to its final 4 teams as the quarterfinal matches have been played and decided. Here are the results of the Quarterfinals:

Ireland  10 - 22  Wales

Wales are again in the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup after beating Ireland 22-10 in Wellington. It has been 24 years since the last Welsh team reach the semifinals in the World Cup.

England  12 - 19  France

Revenge is complete as France battered England for a 19-12 win to move to the semifinals. For 2 straight World Cups, England sent France packing but the 2011 World Cup is different, as the French side made sure that England will be out of the semifinals. England will have to wait for 4 years for another chance of a World Cup. England incidentally hosts the next edition of the rugby world cup. As for France, they will be facing Wales and have a good chance of going to the finals just like in 1987 and 1995.

South Africa  9 - 11  Australia

The Wallabies has somehow redeemed their poor pool play performance as they manage to squeeze past South Africa, the defending champions, in the quarterfinals of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. It is the 5th time for Australia to reach the semifinals. The win also gives a very juicy story line for coach Robbie Deans who is set to face the All-Blacks at Eden Park for a spot in the finals.

New Zealand   33 - 10  Argentina

Hosts New Zealand won over a gritty Argentian team to reach the semifinals this year. The All-Blacks missed the semifinal boat in 2007 while the Pumas won the bronze in the last edition. The All-Blacks continued their streak of not allowing an opponent to score more than 17 points in this year’s world cup. Piri Weepu scored seven penalties to keep Argentina at bay. The win set-up New Zealand with a dream match-up with neighboring Australia. Australia has beaten New Zealand in the semifinals in 1991 and 2003. This weekend’s semifinals would be a good time to return the favor.

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Rugby World Cup 2011: Quarterfinal matches and schedules

Image via Wikipedia

Only 8 teams are left to contend for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The 4 match-ups will determine who will go to the medal rounds.

Quarterfinals

Ireland  vs  Wales

October 8th 2011, h. 18:00

Ireland, the World No. 5 is quite confident coming into this game as they topped Pool C in the group stages. The team has never made it to the top 4 in any of the past stagings of the World Cup but many of its loyal fans believe that they will go far in New Zealand. Ronan O’Gara is expected to be at the forefront of the Irish’ quest for a Semifinal spot.  Wales is ranked No.6 in the latest IRB ranking making this match-up a toss-up between the 2 teams. Wales finished second in Pool D as they suffered a heart-breaking 16-17 defeat to defending champions South Africa in their opening match of the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Fly-halfs  Rhys Priestland and  Stephen Jones will lead a Welsh side that last brought home a bronze medal in 1987.

England  vs  France

October 8th 2011, h. 20:30

This match-up is between 2 teams that played in the semi-finals in the last 2 editions of the Rugby World Cup. England eliminated France in the semifinals in 2003 and 2007. England is brimming with confidence as they topped the very tough Pool B in the current World Cup beating Argentina and Scotland on their way to a quarterfinal date with France.  Winger Chris Ashton and Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson are the top scorers for England so far in the tournament. England is hoping to repeat its 2003 win after finishing 2nd in 2007. France will try to exact revenge on their past exists caused by England. They will fell 3 notches in the current rankings owing to their defeat to Tonga. They will go to quarters without Centre Fabrice Estebanez who was suspended for committing tackle contrary to Law 10(4)(j). Dimitri Yachvili and  Morgan Parra will lead the Les Bleus hoping to duplicate their win in 1995 over England that earned them a bronze medal. France has finished runner-up twice (1987 and 1995).

South Africa  vs  Australia

October 9th 2011, h. 18:00

This pairing will be one of the most anticipated games in the quarterfinals. World No.2 South Africa battle No.3 Australia. The Springboks needs to win this  match to defend their crown. They want to be the first team in history to repeat as champions. They had easy victories in their pool matches save for the game against Wales. They will play the quarters without centre Frans Steyn who suffered a tournament-ending injury. South Africa will have to rely more on super fly-half Morné Steyn. The Wallabies are out to redeem themselves after not making the semifinals in 2007. They already tasted defeat early in the tournament to Ireland. James O’Connor, Adam Ashley-Cooper and company will have to step up in order to give Australia a chance to win its first world cup in the 21st century.

New Zealand  vs  Argentina

October 9th 2011, h. 20:30

The final pairing will pit the 2003 Bronze medal winner New Zealand and the 2007 Bronze medal winner Argentina. This year’s hosts New Zealand won Pool A with no team scoring more than 17 against them. The world No.1 All Blacks would want to win the title in front if its loyal fans.  Colin Slade and fullback  Israel Dagg are currently leading the team in scoring. Argentina, the pool B second-placer will try to repeat their 2007 run. Felipe Contepomi currently leads the scoring of the Los Pumas in 2011 World Cup.

Let’s see who will be the teams that vying for medals in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. We will know them in less than a week.

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