PH rugby teams split HK matches

TWO PHILIPPINE rugby teams met contrasting fates in Hong Kong last December.

The Under-19 Philippine Volcanoes bucked stormy conditions to blank the Hong Kong Junior Warriors, 49-0, in the First Pacific Cup.

Team captains Robert Villaluz McCafferty and Rhys Jacob Mackley, outside back Dan O’Rielly and Hamish Roxas McWilliam starred for the junior national team.

Earlier, the Philippine Development Team bowed to the Hong Kong Senior Warriors, 0-13, in the Transcom Shield tournament.

“The U-19 national team is a platform for our next batch of future Volcanoes. Our program helps develop and identify the next generation of elite athletes. It provides a pathway so our men’s team can continue to be successful on the world stage,” said assistant coach and current Philippine Volcano mentor Jake Letts.

Letts added that McCafferty displayed remarkable improvement and is a strong candidate for the men’s squad.

The Volcanoes bowed out in the qualifiers for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, reaching just the quarterfinals in the Asian Olympic Qualifications.

The men’s team took the gold medal in last year’s Singapore Southeast Asian Games via a sweep, capped by a 24-7 demolition of Malaysia in the finals.

The women’s team settled for bronze.