DABAWENYA nurse's son Filipino-British James Halasan Ryan lifted the Philippine Junior Volcanoes Under 16 team to a championship title in the recently-concluded KL Saracens International Rugby 10s held at the Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort in Malaysia.
The Jr. Volcanoes U16 thrashed SMK King George V, 19-0, in the Shield Final.
Ryan, only child of British scientist Edward and Filipina nurse Fe, said: "The most memorable game was the Shield final. The team played very well and scored three excellent tries for a convincing win. We were competitive in every match, they are all enjoyable."
In a Facebook chat with Sun.Star Davao, the 15-year-old Ryan said he's satisfied with his performance.
"My main contribution to the team was in defense I was very happy with the number and quality of my tackles, and the balls I won back from the opposition. I am also very pleased to have scored a try," Ryan said.
He added that he was a little nervous at the start, adding, "I was not familiar with the team style of play or the set moves. However, everyone was so welcoming that I soon relaxed and was able to learn the moves in training."
"I was also playing in a prop position that I have never played before. I really enjoyed the change as you are always involved in the play in that position," he added.
Ryan also said he "would love to play again" when there are more matches and when he gets selected again.
He is vacationing in Davao City and spending time with friends and relatives before going back home in the United Kingdom on Saturday.
But he will have his hands full upon his return as his club will compete in semi-finals in rugby football and a couple of weeks later he will join a ranking judo tournament in Scotland.
"I will also compete in a judo tournament in Belgium. That will be hard work as I have bulked up for the rugby and will have to lose a few kilograms to get back to my fighting weight," Ryan said.
The Jr. Volcanoes U16 team, coached by Paul Retzlafe, was also bannered by Joshua Mikael Aragon, Benjamin Paul Carden, Matthew Alvaro Cowley, Mikheil Vann Joseph Legarde, Jack Sebastian James Nicholls, Tom William Morris, Wiremu Noah O'regon, Chris Orr, Nathaniel Karl Rescar, Sean Riley, Ryan Ralston Santos, Jason Cale Schirmer, Antonin Soenen and Bryan Von Li Tan.
Ryan also played and won gold medals and silvers for Davao City in several Batang Pinoy regional and national judo and wrestling competitions. He's also been a regular participant in Kadayawan judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu meets.