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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Volcanoes down Malaysia, retain Unions Cup rugby title

Volcanoes down Malaysia, retain Unions Cup rugby title

Published Jul 19, 2026 11:48 am

At A Glance

  • After surviving a fiercely contested first half, the Volcanoes erupted with a dominant second-half scoring surge to pull away from the Malaysians and secure the back-to-back championships.
The Philippine Volcanoes celebrate their Unions Cup title. (Azrael Coladilla/ Philippine Rugby Team)
The Philippine Volcanoes celebrate their Unions Cup title. (Azrael Coladilla/ Philippine Rugby Team)
The Philippine Volcanoes overpowered Malaysia, 39-18, to successfully defend the Unions Cup 2026 title on Saturday, July 18, in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
After surviving a fiercely contested first half, the Volcanoes erupted with a dominant second-half scoring surge to pull away from the Malaysians and secure the back-to-back championships.
The title capped an impressive tournament run for the Volcanoes, who opened their campaign with a commanding 74-0 rout of Laos before defeating Singapore, 33-10, in a hard-fought semifinal.
The Nationals struck hard in the first half with a successful conversion by Ryan Rodriguez Curtis to give the Volcanoes a 7-0 early lead.
But the Malaysians retaliated, erasing the deficit with an 11th minute penalty kick, then capitalizing on a rare lapse in the PH backline in the 20th minute to seize the 10-7 upperhand.
The Volcanoes held their ground despite persistent attempts from Malaysia in the second half, including in the final 10 minutes, with Curtis spearheading the assault.
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