"THE BEST SOCIAL RUGBY TOURNAMENT IN THE WORLD"

The Manila10s was the first ever rugby tournament held in the Philippines, and is also the largest played in the country. 

The tournament was started in 1989, when wise rugby heads worked out, `why go to the party, when you can make the party come to you` and have much more fun while doing it.  It also provided an easy opportunity for the local Nomads team to play rugby, without necessarily have to shell out their own money on the costs of touring.  Coupled with the added philanthropic benefit of helping to grow the sport of rugby in the Philippines, it is not surprising that this event has become a success. 

From such humble beginnings the tournament has grown to become one of the premier social Rugby tournaments in Asia.  In fact the ESPN Rugby show (2005) called it the ‘greatest social rugby tournament in the world’’ a sentiment those who attend agree with wholeheartedly. 

Manila10s has been graced by rugby luminaries like David Campese, Bernie Fraser, John Bentley, Nick Farr-Jones, Joel Stransky, Stu Wilson, Elton Flately, Jeff Probyn, Dan Crowley

The first ever Manila10s had 5 teams playing in a one day tournament, but this number quickly grew when the exploits of those who participated spread throughout the world. In 5 short years (1994) the number of teams making the pilgrimage to Manila had grown to 16 and the tournament had grown to two days of partying.  By 2006 this number had doubled to 32 teams.  This is where we stand in 2009 in celebrating 20 years of Manila10s, 32 teams playing 76 games over two days.  In fact the only way we can accommodate more teams and more games, would be to add an extra day to the rugby festival.

The list of teams that have participated come from all corners of the globe, from Bagdad to Bangkok, Macau to Mongolia, Seoul to Sydney, Taipei to Tokyo, Singapore to Surrey, teams have flocked from throughout the rugby playing universe. 

But even though the M10s is proudly a social rugby tournament, word inexorably spread to even the rugby immortals, with a who’s who of Rugby wanting to partake in the celebration.  The fields of the M10s has been graced by rugby luminaries like David Campese, Bernie Fraser, John Bentley, Nick Farr-Jones, Joel Stransky, Stu Wilson, Elton Flately, Jeff Probyn, Dan Crawley, showcasing their mercurial and ageless skills.

Yet the Manila10s Rugby festival has also done its part to help develop rugby here in the Philippines.  Apart from donating a portion of the entrance fee to the Philippine Rugby Football Union, the M10s and Nomads Rugby supports local clubs by waiving their entrance fee and providing financial assistance to ensure that all local clubs participate.   This has seen a growth from only one local rugby team (Manila Nomads) playing, to the six local teams that now play in the Manila10s.  It is without doubt the preeminent tournament that local clubs participate in and is the focal point of the local rugby calendar, helping to expose local rugby players to a higher standard of rugby and thus improving the skills of local players.  This has proved so successful, that last year (2008), 2 local teams won two of the four divisions (Manila Nomads, Plate Division Champions & Cebu Dragons, Shield Division  Champions) and a third was runner-up in another division (Alabang Eagles, Runner-up Bowl Division), showcasing the development of Rugby in the Philippines.

We could go on and list how the Manila10s is the tournament to be part of, but in the end it comes down to one simple fact, being part of the Manila10s is just plain FUN!!!