Philippine Volcanoes Go Back-to-Back as Unions Cup Champions

NONTHABURI, Thailand — The Philippine Men’s Volcanoes successfully defended their Unions Cup title after defeating Malaysia, 39–18, on Saturday at the Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, completing an unbeaten campaign to become back-to-back champions.

After lifting the inaugural Unions Cup in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in 2025, the Volcanoes returned to the summit with another dominant tournament, opening their campaign with a 74–0 rout of Laos before defeating Singapore, 33–10, to earn another finals showdown against Malaysia.

For head coach Josh Sutcliffe, however, the championship was never just about winning matches.

“It doesn’t matter where you were born. What matters is who you represent,” Sutcliffe said. “Every player who wears this jersey chooses to represent the Philippines, and that’s something we never take for granted.”

That belief has become the foundation of the Volcanoes program, bringing together players from different backgrounds with one shared purpose—to proudly represent the Philippines.

Sutcliffe has also built the team’s culture around two principles that are constantly reinforced throughout every campaign: family and humility.

“We always talk about family,” he said. “Stay humble, work hard and always put the team first. That’s what this group has done from day one.”

Philippines Pull Away from Malaysia in the Second Half

Malaysia tested the defending champions early.

James Ryan Halasan opened the scoring five minutes into the match, powering over from close range before Ryan Curtis converted for a 7–0 lead.

The Malaysians responded through penalties and tries to briefly take control, but the Volcanoes stayed composed. Curtis slotted a penalty before Edlen Hernandez crossed over just before halftime following slick handling from Jason Schirmer, sending both teams into the break tied at 15–15.

The second half belonged to the Philippines.

Richard Lewis crashed over shortly after the restart, with Curtis adding the extras before extending the lead with another penalty.

Malaysia threatened to close the gap, but the Volcanoes answered with the defining play of the match. Captain Kai Stroem launched a perfectly weighted kick that Vince Young chased down before quickly releasing Ned Stephenson, who found Charles Warren to finish a superb team try in the corner.

Connor Browne added another late try as Curtis continued his flawless afternoon with the boot to seal the 39–18 victory.

Curtis once again played a pivotal role throughout the tournament, controlling territory and consistently delivering points under pressure.

A Championship Built on Family and Humility

The title also caps off a memorable campaign for Philippine rugby. Earlier in the tournament, seven Volcanoes players were selected to represent the prestigious Asia Rugby Barbarians, reflecting the growing respect the Philippine program continues to earn across the region. Despite the individual recognition, their focus remained on bringing another championship home.

The triumph is another milestone for a program that continues to compete with limited resources but limitless commitment. Many players balance full-time careers and family responsibilities while representing the country, often relying on community support to compete on the international stage.

The Philippines will now look ahead to another historic chapter as it prepares to host the 2027 Unions Cup, marking the first time the regional tournament will be staged on home soil.

For Sutcliffe, the trophy is a reward for a culture built on selflessness rather than individual achievement.

“We’ll celebrate this, but our values don’t change,” he said. “Stay humble, look after each other and keep representing the Philippines the right way.”