Ryan hurt in rugby game vs HK
FILIPINO-British James Halasan Ryan, Philippine Volcanoes U-18 player, was hurt when he suited up for Philippines U-19 national development team that played Hong Kong Warriors Saturday in the 2016 Transcom Cup International Rugby Development Series at Southern Plains Laguna.
Ryan's mother Fe, a nurse from Davao City, said her son hurt his finger during the game.
"Na-dislocate iyang finger pero gibalik ra nya, nidula gihapon sya (His finger was dislocated but he just put it back then continued to play)," Fe said in a phone interview with Sun.Star Davao yesterday.
The home team absorbed a heavy beating from the Hong Kong Warriors, 0-27. It was Ryan's first 15s game as he is used to playing rugby sevens or 10s.
James, however, will no longer play in the second game against Hong Kong set today as he, his mother and father Edward, a British scientist, returned to Davao City late Sunday evening. Fe said their only child wanted to spend more time with his cousins before he goes to Taiwan on Thursday to play for the Philippine U-18 squad in a tournament there.
Edward, for his part, said James is still fit to play in Taiwan, saying, "His finger is better, it was swollen but he did what he was supposed to. He still played the first minute he put it back."
The 16-year-old James, according to him, is ready for the Taiwan competition having practiced with the team the past three weeks since they arrived from the United Kingdom (UK) where the Ryan family is based
Last year, James played for the Philippine U-16 team in Malaysia. He earlier said, "Hopefully this year, it would be great to bring home a great achievement for the country."
He also played for the Davao Durians U16 team in a tournament held at Tionko field early this month and played for the city in several judo and wrestling regional and national competitions where he brought home golds and silvers.
After the Taiwan meet, the Ryans will go home to UK.