Foreign teams compete in rugby tilt in Talamban

Local squads will try to hold their ground against foreign teams when the 9th Annual International Cebu 10’s Rugby Festival kicks off on Saturday at the Cebu International School pitch in Barangay Talamban, Cebu City.

Three teams from China and one each from Hong Kong and Japan will challenge defending champions Alabang Eagles in this year’s tournament which attracted the biggest number of participants since it started in 2007.

The Eagles, who defeated the Cebu Dragons to win the crown last year, will be mostly composed of players from the Philippine Volcanoes.

The team has won the 10-aside competition for four straight years.

Visiting teams include China’s Guangdong River Rats, Shanghai Dolphins, and Beijing Aardvarks, Japan’s Hapons Rugby Team and Hong Kong’s Clark Bellied Pigs.

“Even with the presence of these international teams, I believe the Eagles are still going to be hard to beat,” Jerry Branzuela of the host Cebu Dragons Team said in a press conference yesterday at The Emerald in Talamban.

“To defeat them (Eagles), you just don’t have to make mistakes,” Branzuela said.

Meanwhile, Philippine-based teams from Papua New Guinea will also compete. They are the Paradise Hunters, Mactan’s Lapu-Lapu Jets, and the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors.

The local teams include Low Flying Dragons, QCPU Questors, Manila Nomads, Davao Durians and Cagayan de Oro Rugby Club.

The tournament will also feature an exhibition game featuring children who were taught to learn the sport as part of the organizers’ grassroots program.