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Philippines rugby is alive and well with the recent completion of the annual Fat Boy Tens competition and the second leg of the Asian Sevens Series (Subic Sevens) set for 10-11th of October.

The 6th Fat Boy Tens as expected was a success and all expectations are that it raised a record amount of money for various local charities whilst developing the game of rugby in the area.

The Pot Bellied Pigs, who run the event, once again walked away as Cup winners beating the Manila Nomads 17-0 in a feisty encounter.

The Pigs are a charitable organisation committed to expanding rugby in Asia. A purely social rugby team based in Hong Kong, but with members throughout the world, they take part in many social and charity games, and tour to exotic locations dressed in their famous pink colours.

The final was dominated in terms of clean possession by the Pigs, who had chosen to stick to expansive rugby could have won by a considerably wider margin. Twice the game erupted into a melee and that there were no more than two yellow cards issued is somewhat surprising. Former Scotland international Doddie Weir was introduced into the fray in the second period, after having turned out for several sides during the day.

Both the Pigs and Nomads had sailed through their pool games. Nomads accounted for Baretto Blues, Beijing Devils and the Akebono Barbaric Rams, where former international prop Dave Thomas had the tough job of packing down against 510lbs retired sumo wrestler of Akebono Taro. The Pigs looked to be playing totally within themselves in defeating Causeway Bay Buccaneers, Manila Carabaos and the Shanghai Hairy Crabs.

The semi-finals pitted two Hong Kong teams against each other, with the Pigs opponents being the Causeway Bay Pirates. They provided stiffer opposition than in the pool games, but ultimately were well beaten. The other semi-final pitched Alabang Eagles, with a back-line looking more and more like the Papua New Guinea national team, scoring first against the Nomads.

Perhaps missing the the direction of an experienced captain, they then saw little of the ball and were overhauled by the Nomads.

Last year’s cup winners the Royal Selangor Club again took home some silverware by claiming the plate. Despite having a team full of veterans, they used their considerable experience to go through the pool stages with two wins and a loss and then defeat the Shanghai Hairy Crabs in the semi-final.

Their opponents in the final were to be Cebu’s Low Flying Dragons. What was at one time Cebu’s second team are now proving to be a real handful with Cebu splitting their players along national lines; Filipinos in the Dragons, foreigners in the Low Flying Dragons and it worked well for the Visayan club.

The bowl was won by Causeway Bay Buccaneers, the second string side from a sizeable touring party, who defeated the Arabian Pot Bellied Pigs in the final 19-0.