We are in a somewhat unique position in that our boys are ‘street children’ coming from a hopeless situation and have experienced only limited social development and self-discipline.  We believe it is an essential part of our curriculum that we give our boys the opportunity to develop through team sports. The two major sports introduced at our Center are rugby and baseball.  These two sports develop positive team building within a framework of rules and standards of behaviour.

Touch rugby was introduced to our boys about four and a half years ago.  Playing is voluntary, but such is their enjoyment of the sport, all boys physically able to do so participate.

We are now able to field a very competitive team with what started as a handful of kids. They have learned the skills of the game and the essence of teamwork and sportsmanship, and participate in Manila and annually at Clark Air Base. Their success is unrivalled, and in 2011 they hope to travel to England to compete in some games there.

  
A proud rugby team
 

All of the players have been awarded at least three gold medals, and several older players have received more than five.  Much of this success is not only due to the boys’ amazing natural talents, but because we have been very fortunate to have an international rugby coach, namely Alan McConnell, whose hard work and inspiration has built a corps of players who are a match for anyone, as their record shows.

Unfortunately, the Rotary Club of Clark Centennial has been unable to gain sponsors in Luzon or access to the Philippine Rugby Development Fund, but with the teams becoming better known and with the growing development of the sport outside Manila, we are hoping this may change.

 How’s that for handling skills .

However, with the help of the Hong Kong Football Club (Rugby Section) and the Hong Kong Pot Bellied Pigs Rugby Football Club, we are able to field teams. The Pot Bellied Pigs RFC are renowned for their fund raising at social rugby events, as they tour widely throughout S.E. Asia. Their charity fund raising for our Center is equivalent to keeping it open and administered for about three months of the year. In addition, the Hong Kong Football Club (Rugby Section) donates rugby balls and quality uniforms for our players. They also raise funds for our rugby teams, indeed we would not be playing rugby without the support of the rugby fraternity of Hong Kong.  For that we are extremely grateful.
 

Read more about the Bahay Bata Rugby Team's development, the Hong Kong Pot Bellied Pigs annual tournament, coaching, the Philippine Rugby Association's involvement.

 Alan McConnell awarding medals 

Lionel Claydon 1939 - 2009

A former Police Chief Superintendent from Queensland, Australia, and a keen rugby player from childhood, he joined the Rotary Club of Clark Centennial in September 2001 where he introduced the children to rugby, and promoted the development of touch rugby in the Philippines.

With the financial demands on funds just to keep the home running on a day to day basis, a lot of the funding of the rugby program was done by Lionel personally. Until his health failed he would always accompany the Bahay Bata Rugby Team on away tournaments and  pay for their meals. Sadly he passed away in 2009.

Lionel was a quiet man who did a lot for kids. I guess that is an epitaph we all could look up to, and do as Lionel did, put our hands in our pockets and keep his legacy and the sport alive.

Lionel being interviewed by the Australian TV Network about his success with teaching the children the game of rugby.

Participating in Rugby has been a rewarding part of the boys’ character development. Please join with the Clark Centennial Rotary Club in this venture. If you would like to make a donation, please attach a note specifying that it is for rugby and it will be solely used for this purpose.

          Lionel Claydon 2008
 

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