Volcanoes debut vs Kenyans in Rugby World Cup Sevens

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Volcanoes plunge into action in the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow, “quietly confident” they can stand their ground against a highly competitive field.

The Volcanoes were slated to face the Kenyans last night. They play a double-header today, taking on Samoa in the morning and Zimbabwe in the afternoon.

Caravelli and skipper Michael Letts said they are “quietly confident Phl can make its mark by mounting a serious challenge to either Kenya or Zimbabwe, against whom the Volcanoes narrowly lost in the 2012 Hong Kong Sevens.”

In one of the rare times that the Phl has qualified for a World Cup in any team sport, the Volcanoes hope to hold their own against fancied Kenya, Samoa and Zimbabwe in Pool C of what’s largely considered the most competitive RWC Sevens in history.

Even before hostilities started last night, Phl already got a shot in the arm as International Rugby Board chairman Bernard Lapasset lauded the country’s efforts in stepping up into the elite level of men’a rugby sevens.

Since arriving in the Russian capital last Sunday, the Pinoys, backed by official outfitter Fila, have been training vigorously daily at the Olympic Village and arranged to play famed New Zealand All Black 7s in a practice game.

Their inspired performance drew praises from New Zealand coach Gordon Tietjans, who was “suitably impressed” with the Volcanoes and went on to say that “anything can happen in sevens rugby” and that “upsets occur at all sevens tournaments.”

“The training run against the mighty All Blacks was a perfect start and exactly what the Volcanoes needed to gauge the level of competition and intensity at the 2013 RWC,” said coach Al Caravelli.