Date: 15/10/13
On October 19 the international sport of Rugby League will converge in the small fishing town of, San Narciso, Zambales.
The tournament which was originally scheduled to be played at Clark Airbase, Remy field was cancelled because it coincided with the Philippine-US Amphibious Landing Exercises code-named PHIBLEX. Therefore was transferred to the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in San Narciso, Zambales.
The Philippines National Rugby League (PNRL) is grateful for the help and generosity of Admiral Richard U. Ritual for allowing us to hold the tournament at the Academy, rechristening the tournament the Zambales 9s!
Coming to Zambales will be Filipino-Australian teams from Australia. With the Cebu City Chiefs, Captained by PNRL Board member Rene Payne, made up of players with mostly Visayan heritage. And the Clark Crusaders, Captained by Pampangan, ‘Johno’ Reyes made up of players with Luzon heritage.
These two Filipino-Australian teams will face local Rugby players from the Philippines first all Filipino Rugby Union team formed in 2002, the Merchant Marine Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP) from Mariveles, who now play both codes of Rugby. They will bring two teams to the Zambales 9s, the cadets’ nick named the MAAP Warriors and their graduate brothers called the MAAP Kings.
The tournament will also see the return of the inaugural 2012 Clark International 9s participants, the students of Don Bosco Technical Institue from Makati and the cadets and employees of maritime company Anscorswire Ship Management. With new participants coming from Cardiff Crewing Filipinas Inc, who will all compete in the non-contact touch football component of the tournament.
Also making their very proud debut in their own Academy will be the cadets of PMMA who were introduced to Rugby League last June, by Tom Simpson and David Perry who are itching to finally get to play their first games of what is known as the, “The Greatest Game of All”.
Also on show on the day is the future of the sport of Rugby League in the Philippines. With the children of fishing families of La Paz beach the San Narciso Juniors Rugby League team playing exhibition touch football matches all day!
So for those wanting to come and experience the sport of Rugby League come along to PMMA in San Narciso, Zambales. Kicks off at 9:00AM and will go on all day and into the late afternoon with admission being free to the tournament.
