(NI JEAN MALANUM)

PATULOY ang training ng women’s rugby team upang mabigyan ng karangalan ang Pilipinas  sa 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEAG).

Noong 2015 Singapore SEAG ay naka-bronze ang Lady Volcanoes at nakuha nila ang ika-apat na pwesto sa Malaysia (2017).

Isa sa mga pre-SEAG tournament na lalahukan ng Lady Volcanoes ang 2019 Asia Rugby Women’s Trophy Series sa Jakarta, Indonesia ngayong buwan.

Makakalaban ng Pilipinas ang Chinese Taipei, Brunei at Guam sa Agosto 10 bago harapin ang host Indonesia sa susunod na araw.

Ang Pilipinas ay nasa Pool A samantalang nasa Pool B ang top seed Korea, India, Laos, Bangladesh at Qatar.

Nagtala ang Lady Volcanoes ng 5-1 (win-loss) record upang makuha ang silver medal sa 2018 Asia Rugby Women’s Trophy Series.

“Last year, our girls played some very good Rugby sevens, this year we are looking to replicate that performance, however, go one step further. We will have a number of players returning from last year, plus some new faces to help boost the squads strength,” pahayag ni Chris Everingham, Isa sa mga coaches ng Lady Volcanoes kahapon sa PSA Forum na ginawa sa Amelie Hotel Manila.

Gagamitin rin ng Pilipinas ang torneo sa Indonesia upang tumaas ang ranking sa Asia Rugby calendar.

“The 2019 SEA Games is our No. 1 priority, so these events are extremely important to ensure we are on the right path. It’s a great opportunity for our athletes and our teams to showcase where they are currently, so we can test and measure what we need to do before the SEA Games in December,” ani Lady Volcanoes general manager Jake Letts.

May 25 players ang sumali sa mini training camps na ginawa nitong dalawang weekend at  dito pinili ni head coach Fetala’ Taua’a at Everingham ang maglalaro sa Indonesia.

Kasama sa mga napili sina Helena Indigne, Sylvia Tudoc, Aiumi Ono at overseas talent Patricia Duffy, Lily Smythe and Jacqueline Rodriguez.