NEW ZEALAND SUPPORTS PH RUGBY DEVELOPMENT

THE New Zealand Mangatainoka Barbarians rugby team treated Filipino rugby fans with an exhibition match on Monday at the International School Manila.

The team including a former All Black, several Māori All Blacks and club rugby players, is in the Philippines for a week to promote the sport.

The New Zealand Mangatainoka Barbarians played the Manila Barbarians on Monday. An added highlight to the evening was a haka performed by the visiting team. For many

fans, this was the first time to witness this ancient Māori war dance traditionally performed by New Zealand teams in tournaments around the world.

Alongside the exhibition match, New Zealand Ambassador David Strachan passed over an P800,000 check to the Philippine Rugby Football Union ( PRFU). It was in support of the PRFU project Rugby for All, which aims to offer equal opportunities to youths and increase participation in sport.

The grant will help provide rugby training, clinics and festivals in Negros Occidental.

“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 PRFU.

It is an honor for New Zealand to support the development of rugby in the Philippines,” said Ambassador Strachan.

Rugby —A Sport for All is PRFU’s contribution to the Asia 1 Million Project initiative of Asia Rugby, to kick start the growth of the sport across the region.

The Mangatainoka Barbarians will be hosting various clinics for children, local club teams and provide opportunities to meet the players and participate in events around the Philippines. The team will head to Clark, Pampanga today for a Rugby Open Day.

From there, they will fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan to participate in the third Annual Palawan Rugby Festival.