Rugby in Cebu

If you hear the word rugby, you’d probably think of the street children, who inhale the substance so blatantly and our authorities have done nothing much about it. 

While I have done a piece or two about these hazards on the streets in my motoring column that comes out every Tuesday in this paper, this rugby that I am going to write about is one of the sporting kind.

On April 9, that’s next Saturday, the 4th Cebu 10s Rugby Festival will be held at the Cebu International School grounds in barangay Pit-os. 

Although I regularly receive email from the rugby aficionados in this part of the world, I got word about this event from my good friend Hector ‘King’ Almario, who called me up the other week.

For next Saturday’s event, where entrance, by the way, is free, more than 100 players will be coming to Cebu to vie for the crown.

The participants will be led by defending champion Manila Nomads and there will also be other teams from the Big City that we sometimes refer to as “imperial Manila” as well as the Tequila Mocking Bird of Hong Kong.

The action starts at 10 a.m. and will end on 4 p.m. on the same day.

There will be three teams from Cebu -- the EMIA Cebu Dragons, Overgaards Low Flying Dragons, and the 1st Autogas Komodo Dragons.

While I have watched some of the local clubs practice, the only real rugby action I have witnessed so far are those on television.

Rugby is an international sport and the Cebu Dragons, who were organized only five years ago, according to Damien Allison, have already taken part in international competitions representing the country.

In fact, the Pink Dragons, the ladies team of Cebu rugby, are the reigning national champions.

It will take some time for us to really appreciate the sport and learn to love it as much as these men and women, who play the game. On April 9, we will have a chance to see the action for real and this is a good start for those who want to know more about rugby.

See you at the CIS field then.

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Registration for Run UP High, which is set on May 1, is now ongoing at the University of the Philippines Cebu High School on Mondays to Fridays and at Runnr in Ayala Center Cebu on Fridays to Sundays.

Registration fee is P200 for the 3-K event, P250 for the 6-K, and P300 for the 12-K race.

The race is held for the benefit of the scholarship program of the UP Cebu High School Alumni Association, Inc.

I hope you will support this event.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings to Atty. Fraulein Quijada, who turns a year older today.

Advance greetings go to Col. Jay Tindoy, April Tudtud-Ramos, Galla Galanza-Diaz, former Tourism Secretary Ace Durano, Manna Alcaraz, and Atty. Pamela Oliver, who are all turning a year older tomorrow.

Belated greetings also go to Sandra Centino-Jones, who celebrated last Friday.

More power to all of you!