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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider PH Volcanoes annihilate Thais, conquer Unions Cup

PH Volcanoes annihilate Thais, conquer Unions Cup

Published Jul 13, 2025 03:10 pm

At A Glance

  • The Philippine men's rugby team stamped its class and annihilated Thailand, 23-6, to conquer the 2025 Unions Cup at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan Saturday evening, July 12.
(RugbyAsia247)
(RugbyAsia247)
The Philippine men’s rugby team stamped its class and annihilated Thailand, 23-6, to conquer the 2025 Unions Cup at the Kaohsiung National Stadium in Taiwan Saturday evening, July 12.
Playing in their first appearance in the tournament, the Volcanoes displayed tenacity after they turned a tight 8-6 contest into a massive 17-point victory, with James Ryan and Ned Stephenson leading the Filipino assault en route to their first title in six years.
The Nationals went on a six-year hiatus in international competitions due to the Covid pandemic. The team last won a championship in the 2019 Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 tiff.
Prior to their title win, the Philippines tamed reigning champion Singapore, 37-20, in the opening round last Wednesday.
The Josh Sutcliffe-mentored crew was bannered by team captain Kai Kristian Stroem and vice skipper Craig Wallace, Ryan, Stephenson, Thomas Reyes, Lawrence Beboso, Kian Mulholland, Dylan Davies, Christopher Flores, Edlen Hernandez, Hamis Seddon, Vincent Young, Judd Greenhalgh, Michael Blatchies, and Patrice Olivier.
The reserves were Fausto Eizmendi, Ken Mellorin, JM Cardenas, Mathew Bellenie, Connor Browne, Johnathan Greenwood, Kohei Mitsuhashi, and Jovan Masalunga with assistant Tommy Gilbert, team manager Lalaine Bacus and Physiotherapists David Adamson and Jun Whei Cheah.
Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei secured the third place after beating the Singaporeans, 27-22.
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