The Philippines Men’s national 15s team, the Volcanoes, lifted the Unions Cup 2025 as champions at Kaohsiung National Stadium, playing their first Test matches since 2019, as they beat a very gutsy and determined Thailand team 23-6 on Saturday, 12th July.
In the 3rd place match, the hosts, Chinese Taipei, fought a brutally physical contest to edge out Singapore 27-22.
Final Standings – Unions Cup 2025
- Philippines
- Thailand
- Chinese Taipei
- Singapore Rugby
Volcanoes Men’s Head Coach, Josh Sutcliffe, told us what winning the title at their first attempt means. Saying, “For me, I started in 2007 as a Volcano, and this reminds me of that time period. To be able to form a bond, first by Zoom, and then have everyone fly in and meet here and only have three days of (disrupted) training and win – that’s pretty incredible for me. To be a small part of that, but also bring that heritage from 2007 and restart the 15s Men’s program in 2025 – I am very proud of that.”
The coach is based in the United States and works with USA Rugby, explaining, “The technology about selecting players wasn’t there then, and now we have been doing things unconventionally too, but we have all been able to put in the time, work with the PRFU, and work with the players.”
All week, we spoke to the four team camps about the importance of the Unions Cup of restarting 15s Men’s programs and giving them something to aim for and build on.
Philippines Men’s Head Coach Sutcliffe explained, ‘The biggest thing is that this hopefully raises our profile. Anytime you win, people want to hear about it – if it ends up on the front page of the news or trends on social media posts or whatever it happens to be – our hope is that sponsors want to help us out.
Our players self-funded this trip and paid for their time here, and for their flights over. We just want to make sure more players get the opportunity to play, not just the ones who can afford it. We want the best playing group, but also we have players here who were inspired by the group from 2012-2019, and they are playing in this team now.”
Photo Credit – Mr Wu Philippines Unions Cup 2025 Champions
The final was very tough, which both teams acknowledged. The coach explained, “I expected Thailand to be tough, but they were tougher than I thought they were going to be. I knew they were going to be different from the first round, as I’ve seen their guys walk around the hotel where all the teams are based, and I didn’t expect the same starting lineup they put out against Chinese Taipei – and that made them unpredictable.”
He said of the key message, “I really challenged the boys before the final about thinking about this as chopping down a tree. You don’t know when the tree is going to fall over, so you just have to keep putting in the cuts, and the final whistle is when it falls over. That was the theme for the course of the day, and that’s what they stuck to. Even when things went wrong, I wanted them to put in the big effort to get back in the game, which is what happened.”
The game’s outcome was not decided until the final quarter. The energy and support from the Philippines bench was audible while Thailand were urging and scrambling for that fight and energy, which didn’t seem to come in the end. The impact players made a massive difference, too.
“These boys were desperate to play. We knew that when we put them in, we told them they had to make an impact, and it was intended to change the speed and tempo of the game. We asked them to lift that tempo, and every one of those players did that”, said Sutcliffe.
The Unions Cup expands and moves to Thailand in 2026. We are already excited for that prospect, with the new SEA women’s 15s tournament kicking off in February 2026.
“I am excited to come back next year with the boys to defend this title, and I think, like everyone, I am very interested to see what the format is going to be. Let’s see what it is and put on a great show for everyone,” added Sutcliffe.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
Thailand vs Philippines Final Unions Cup 2025
The evening was even more humid as the game kicked off following the 3rd place match. It started with a lot of close physical play, and it was not too expansive – it felt like a final as both teams felt each other out.
After ten minutes, there was no score and no clear-cut chances. Both sides had massive carries and huge tackles all through the middle of the park.
Ned Stephenson at centre broke the deadlock to score in the right in another very tight game. They added three more from a penalty, thanks to flyhalf Kai Stroem, but Thailand got their own back soon after for an 8-3 scoreline.
The Thais were getting plenty of aerial balls, which they wanted, but weren’t making any great meters – the height of the up unders was causing them trouble as they mishandled a few of the kick collections.
The Volcanoes missed a penalty shot as both sides spurned some good attacking opportunities, but no one could establish any dominance. The Thais’ few attacking lineouts were well defended by the Philippines, and it was a real arm-wrestle of a game.
At the hooter, Thailand won another penalty, which they kicked to make it 8-6 at the break.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
There was more of the same in the second half as the noise from the bench and encouragement from subs and coaches tried to give either team the slightest of edges.
The Philippines won a penalty from a lineout maul and looked to add three more, but it was pushed wide.
There was a real ebb and flow to the game but it was really enticing to watch. Thailand tried to move the ball with the backs but so slowly and lateral and were getting hit back. Philippines won a penalty 30m out and successfully scored to make it 11-6.
There really was not an inch given. Brutal defence as neither side could stamp their authority, but the Philippines were winning the territory battle in the half and forced pressure on Thailand. They finally scored again with a very smart try after repeated phases, as hooker James Ryan made it 18-6.
Thailand were trying to play out of their own 22m – but lost some composure – and the Philippines pounced, with Ned Stephenson scoring his second of the game to extend the lead to 23-6.
A crossfield kick from Stroem nearly led to a Thailand score, but the scramble defence held on. Thailand spent their first real period of time in the Volcanoes half in the final quarter but failed to convert it to points, and that’s how the game stayed at fulltime 23-6.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
Chinese Taipei vs Singapore 3/4th Unions Cup 2025
Both teams took to the field and started by belting out their anthems in the sparsely attended match, but it was a special moment for every player to represent their nation in this huge stadium. That passion spilt over at times in what was a very edgy and tense match.
There were a number of early mistakes and penalties, with the Chinese Taipei side winning scrum advantage early and looking to target that facet of the game, which was a surprise. The repeated infringements from Singapore earned them a very early team warning from Hong Kong China referee Sunny Lee, but Singapore stole the ball from the next play to exit their try line and nearly score at the other end of the field. It was after a period of sustained pressure and defence to start the match.
Eventually, the hosts found a way to crack the Singaporeans as big centre #12 scored a try after some scrappy exit attempts to lead 5-0. The opening quarter was incredibly physical, and there were a lot of scrums which were taking their toll.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
Singapore got their chance to strike back when the Chinese Taipei fullback was sent off with a yellow card and they nearly scored straight away, but knocked the ball on over the try line. Every Singapore mistake and won ball was greeted with high yelps and Pacific Islander type screams from the hosts, which were both annoying and unsportsmanlike as the match went on.
Singapore failed to score while they had the extra player, and Chinese Taipei extended the lead to 8-0 With a penalty. Towards the end of the half, there was a lot of broken play and counterattacks. Singapore made the most of one of those as the debut scrumhalf Reonne Yoe scored just before the half to make it 8-5 to Chinese Taipei.
The second half had the same intensity, but it remained tight for the first part of the period. But both teams had created chances. Chinese Taipei unlocked the defence and scored through their scrumhalf to lead 15-5.
There was some aimless kicking from both sides. Once again, the powerhouse Chinese Taipei #12 won the footrace and stole the ball from the Singapore sole defender to score his second. On review, he was blatantly off his feet, and it should never have stood, but they had created breathing room to lead 22-5.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
From the kick-off, Singapore earned a penalty and kicked to touch to try to get their rolling maul going (they scored twice against the Philippines using this attacking weapon), but the team in blue defended it well. Time was running out for a comeback.
Singapore won a scrum penalty. Kicked to touch, and off the back of the lineout, there was a massive hit by the Chinese Taipei hooker on the opponent’s captain. Singapore managed to recycle the ball and score under the posts via their prop Aiman Akram to reduce the lead to 22-12. Within minutes, Chinese Taipei scored again after great work by their right wing as he made a solo run to evade some tackles and make it 27-12.
Singapore’s left wing Sean Andriesz had been very active all game, and his influence grew in the second half. Late in the half, Singapore struck again after the reserve player threw a dummy, and after several phases, Miguel William dotted down for a 19-27 deficit. Singapore faced scoreboard pressure and chased the game, and as a result, threw more 50/50 passes.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu
There was a massive scrum penalty advantage 25 meters out and Singapore opted for the posts and slotted it to make it a one try game at 27-22 but that’s where it ended as full-time was blown in the 3/4th playoff of the Unions Cup 2025 – Chinese Taipei beat Singapore to claim third- they also defeated Singapore last year.
We are already looking forward to the expanded 2026 edition in Thailand. Thank you to the Chinese Taipei Rugby Union for having us, and to all 4 teams’ players and management for taking the time to talk to us. Thanks to the amazing photos from Mr Wu all week.
The matches can be seen and are free to watch on YouTube.
Unions Cup 2025
- Unions Cup 2025 Finals Preview.
- Guam To Join the Expanded Unions Cup from 2026.
- Unions Cup 2025 Match 2 Review – Thailand Edge Out Chinese Taipei.
- Unions Cup 2025 Match 1 Review – Philippines Volcanoes Overpower Singapore.
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