The “Comm” has been through a bit of a metamorphosis this year and a few new faces have appeared. Lala Lejeune is now our full-time official designer, Sam Chittick is looking very much like Chairman-in-waiting and it is a delight to have Raquel Romero on board as our event manager.  We are also joined by Mr PRFU, Matt Cullen, who brings a touch of AA Milne to proceedings.

Meetings have moved from “The Bunker” chez Barberis to the Chairman’s kitchen (who has even had an aircon installed to stave off the bitter complaints of a few). Meetings are not known to finish early and the wine fridge generally moves from brimming to anorexic in that time frame. Monkey Bay has been a favourite this year and our wine sponsor, James Du Vivier, always has a smile on his face when Comm meetings are called!

There have been a few departing Comm members this year and I would particularly like to thank Treffor Elliot for his remarkable work in sorting out the team registrations from Bahrain over the last five years. Romain Barberis remains on the fringes of the Comm, but has drifted ever closer to retirement in tropical island paradise (no jealousy on the part of any of us…) – his energy and enthusiasm for all things rugby remains unabated. Rey Gigataras has taken up a lot more work at UP, but will still be contributing over the M10’s week – support which, as ever, is very welcome.

This year represents the 20th Anniversary of the Manila 10’s and our Merchandise Department have laid on some goodies to commemorate that milestone. These items will be the envy of Manila over the next year, so buy early to avoid disappointment!

The Comm makes this event work and, without it, the Manila 10’s would never have got started, let alone be running strong after 20 years. You are encouraged to buy any of those listed below a drink over the weekend and very much discouraged from complaining about not being able to access the sponsor stands in the “traditional” freeloading manner of yesteryear ☺

Once again, thanks to everyone who has worked hard to make this event happen.

Bill “CRAFTy Scribe” Bailey,
Chairman
Embarking on his third year as Chairman of the Manila 10’s and beginning to look about 20 years older than when he started! Has also taken on the ANZ Cham Lunch on the Friday, so if all ends in a heap, you know who to blame… Sporting achievements have plummeted throughout the last year and is desperately trying (in vain) to retire from everything. Renowned for saying “just one more year…” to Rossco on the Sunday about 3 bottles of wine after the final whistle.

Rossco “Last Man Standing” Schirmer
Tournament Director
Rossco is the man that the teams address their rules questions to over the weekend. Rossco has a very simple strategy and basically says “no”. Never been known to leave a Comm meeting first and rarely before about 2am. Don’t ever bother asking this man if he has a cigarette.

Raquel “Double R” Romero
Event Manager
Has taken on one of life’s less enviable tasks and approached it with some gusto. Former ANZ Cham staffer, has branched out on her own into event management. Quite what she makes of the various waifs and strays that make up the Comm we may never know…

Clair “FHM” Barberis
Executive Chair – Merchandise
Has now appeared in an FHM spread and is officially a “hot chick” – also took centre stage in the Touch & Soul exhibit where she was depicted as wearing, err…, not very much. Has seen a year-on-year increase in merchandise sales since taking over and is banking on being a recession buster this year! Probably the most watched Nomads rugby player in the existence of the Club.

Sam “Plate for Me“ Chittick
Nomads Captain
Having been the inspirational leadership force behind the Nomads triumph last year, Sam stepped up to the Comm without any hesitation. For an intelligent man, has really struggled with the concept of winning and then the way the draw works next year – something that we are sure that he will come to terms with ☺ Has also been pivotal in the new-look Nomads playing jersey that will be on show this year – sublime, subliminal or sublimated (one or more of those).

Lala “Vegas” Lejeune
Branding & Design
An innovative designer and another of those brave girls that bared all to pose for the “Touch & Soul” portfolio. Amongst a multitude of real Christian names, prefers to be known as “Lala” – although readily acknowledges that this, coupled with the French surname, does rather give the impression  of a Las Vegas showgirl… Does have the ability to turn up at Comm meetings with her own cigarettes.

Richard “Ricardo” Radier,
Referees
It always seemed like a good idea to put the man who fell out with the referees last year in charge of organizing them this year… well we do rather hope so! Ricardo has been an inspiration to us all on the Comm with his ability to fix the draw over the years. Sadly, that task has
been handed on, just when Nomads needed him most.

Max “Manok” Stewart
Referees’ Hotel
Former Nomads captain that now looks part way to mummification every time he dons the rugby boots. Important task of fixing up the refs’ accommodation – let’s just hope we have some refs to accommodate ☺

Jay “e-mail” Savage,
Official Programme
The tournament has been going for 20 years and we believe that Jay has been on the Comm for 25 of those. Has had immense pleasure in ploughing through two decades worth of photos and this has had the desired benefit of keeping him away from ordering of rugby balls. A man addicted to the sending of short, confused and meaningless emails on an almost hourly basis. It wouldn’t be the same without him.

Matt “Mr Nomads” Freeston,
Nomad Sports Club Liaison
Club Treasurer and multiple-time former President, Matt is green, black, gold and white to the core (unless he is watching Sheff Utd fail valiantly on a Saturday night). Lives a comfortable two metres walking distance from the Club entrance and has footprints embedded at various points around the corner of the bar. Beyond the odd (very odd) appearance in goal, tends to give the physical side of sport a wide berth these days.

Phil “Husband of” Gittus
Team Liaison & Event Scheduling
Part of the deadly spousal pairing that makes the tournament tick. Playing days seem to be over, but never shies away from telling others how tough it was in his day (particularly as it relates to the consequences of winning the Plate). Having forged a lasting bond with Trefor Elliot last year, put his hand up to take on the Team Liaison role for 2009. Argues with Cullen.

Matt “Tigger” Cullen,
Noise & Energy
Matt has taken the brave step of moving away from his teaching job at Brent and has taken up the full-time role of managing the PRFU. Has made a sport out of winding up Nomads Rugby and is very much the heart of the Alabang Eagles. Always an entertainment at Comm. meetings. Argues with Gittus.

Jonathan “Can I make a suggestion?” Thorp
Nomads President
An occasional Comm attendee when not too busy playing lawn bowls or petanque. One of the more enthusiastic Presidents in Nomads history and a great supporter of this tournament (as long as we listen to his suggestions).

IN THE OFFICIALS’ STAND

David “Shovel” Reynolds,
Announcer
A former Nomad on the rugby field in his prime and is now the owner of the silky tones that you hear drifting across the playing fields over the weekend. Never ask about freshly turned turf at the bottom of his garden…

David “’Odges” Hodges,
Announcer
A Manila legend. Is our guest writer in this year’s prog having invented this tournament 20 years ago. The perfect foil for Reynolds and never short of an acidic barb when it is deserved (and plenty when they are not really deserved!)

Dale “The Godfather” Godkin
Announcer & Sounds
The man behind the buzzer and the iPod – Dale spends the year collating those little clips that blare out when a try is scored – must be an interesting life ☺ Also the man who has the less than enviable task of trying to make Nomads sound system work year on year!.

Rey “Touch me UP” Gigataras,
Event Set-up & Organiser of the UP Girls
Has the wonderful task of organizing the lovely UP girls that act as ballgirls and scorers all weekend. Not exactly a task you run away from… has also been charged with set-up of the ground and ensuring all the erections will keep all of our sponsors happy all weekend ☺

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Romain “Lucky Sod” Barberis
Has a retirement home on a paradise island, a wife in FHM and is loaded. Need I say more... The raw energy behind Nomads Rugby, pivotal in last year’s success and throws the best parties in Makati. Avoids committees like the plague - which is odd given where the plague actually came from☺

Isabella “The Chef” Shafir,
Official Provider of Chicken Liver Pate
At Comm meetings, forget the Santi’s cold cuts and the wonderful array of cheeses – it is Isabella’s home-made CL pate that is the “to die for” item on the menu! Recipe available on request – may even be an item on this year’s merchandise stall…

Celia “Wife of” Gittus,
Official Scorer
Not sure what is more onerous; running the scoring all weekend or coping with her husband over the same time span! Has done a sensational job in bringing what happens on the field into the officials’ hut and onto the scoreboard.

The UP Girls,
Ball Girls & Scorers
An absolute delight to work with – thanks again girls!

Jena Fetalino/Harry Gallermo/Tina Torres
Creators of the “Nomads Carabao”
This first hit the streets in a football jersey, was then superimposed on Kevin Pietersen to plug the big Nomads Cricket event and ultimately replaced Eugene as the pin-up for the Manila 10’s. A big thanks to Jena and her team for this wonderful (and “very Nomads”) creation.