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Hong Kong Valley RFC (www.valleyrfc.com) is excited to be returning to the Philippines for another Manila 10’s. There have been too many appearances in Manila to count. (and I have been asked to submit the team write up too many times as well!)
The good news is that we consistently bring our best social team, and have done so again this year. Many of our competitors have felt the pain of running into Valley players the night before the games. Watch out again this year. Valley RFC is thirty strong, and that means trouble in Manila at night!
We will happily leave the silverware to the Singapore Ba Bas, and any other team that thinks fun in Manila means “in bed by 9 at night” or IV drips (Zamboanga) at 9 in the morning. Good luck, and may you all have an early kickoff. Valley’s idea of a great weekend is the perfect win-loss ratio to arrive at a post 11am start on Sunday. This is not easy to accomplish, requiring all sorts of adding and subtracting the win-loss column on Saturday. However, it is a thing of beauty when obtained after a long day in the sun on Saturday.
As an organizer, I have often dreamed of bringing our first grade team to the Manila 10’s. Year after year, I beg for a handful of young, fit, and fast players. Yet once again, we will give the Pigs a good run for their money on the scales. Seems we have twenty seven players (ex-Seb and Vic at 50 kg each) all wanting to play in the pack. All in all, expect good sportsmanship on the pitch and great fun with Valley RFC off the pitch.
Lastly, thank you to the organizers for getting the Manila 10’s back on schedule, the weekend before the Hong Kong 7s. We would rather give our all to Manila and leave what’s left in the tank for Hong Kong! Great job as always....
This is the part where I am supposed to write something funny about each player. To be honest, with thirty people on tour, I can’t be bothered. However, three people on tour get a special mention. Leslie Tomlinson (Weasel) - For deciding to have his stag on the weekend of the Manila 10’s, and who is leaving for Australia after many years with Valley RFC in Hong Kong. Colin Olsen - Celebrating his 30th year playing rugby for Valley RFC. Seriously, take a minute ponder that! Victor Cavin - Second year of bringing a female on tour; dude, the four-shots-of-tequila-in-one-glass-fine did not teach a lesson? Poor you at the fine session on Saturday night.
Thanks again for allowing us to participate the Manila 10’s.
The Team Babysitter,
Sean
TEAM LIST (ALL FORWARDS EX TWO):
- Colin Olsen
- Leslie Tomlinson
- Victor Cavin (50 kg back)
- Darren O’Brien
- Arrann Young
- Arthur Van Dijk
- Darren O’Brien
- Andrew Cameron
- Thomas Recaldin
- Gavin Wilson
- Fat Yuen
- Matt Bennett
- Sean Gibson
- Colin Kelly
- Boris Niethammer
- Darin Shelstad
- Nicolas Tondeur
- Paddy Shepherd
- Seb Cheung (50 kg back)
Tony Carango
- Winton de St John-Pryce
- Seb Owen
- Tim Yip
- Charlie Jarvis
Nick Lawrence
- Sean Alexander
- Christian Schmollenger (Special guest from the Singapore Wanderers)
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