IN CELEBRATION of the Philippine-Australia friendship week, the Australian Embassy in the Philippines in cooperation with the Philippine Rugby Football Union and the Davao Durians Rugby Football Club conducted a one-day touch rugby tournament dubbed as "Australian Global Alumni Family Day and Get Into Rugby Tournament" that came to a close at the University of Mindanao (UM) ROTC field in Matina over the weekend.
PRFU regional development officer Blessie Kate Delos Santos, in a Facebook interview yesterday, said the summer tournament pushed through since the "Touch Rugby-A Sport for All" project as supported by the Australian Embassy and the Get Into Rugby program of Davao City have something in common.
"The rugby tournament fits that billing. They wanted to get the far-flung communities to get involved with the sport as a recreation option during after school or weekend and to get more kids to live an active lifestyle outdoors," Delos Santos added.
Delos Santos aims to help strengthen the friendship between the Philippines and Australia through the sport.
A total of 18 teams were invited to join the tournament.
The S.O.S. Children's Village Davao (SOSCVD) bagged two titles while the Ateneo de Davao University (Addu) Grade School and Telesforo Singson National High School (TSNHS) also ruled their respective divisions.
The SOSCVD boys lorded over F. Bangoy Central Elementary School (FBCES) and Catalunan Pequeño Elementary School (CPES) in the boys under-12 division while the SOSCVD girls copped the girls under-16 crown over TSNHS girls.
Addu Grade School, for its part, won the girls under-12 division over CPES and Buhisan Elementary School (BES), which placed second and third, respectively.
TNHS, meanwhile, clinched the boys under-16 title over SOSCVD in the event graced by Australian Ambassador in the Philippines Amanda Gorely, Jake Letts, managing director of PRFU, UM president Guillermo "Willie" Torres Jr., Department of Education Davao City Division's Jonas Piore and Clare Duffield of the Australian Embassy.