Ada Milby

Name: Ada Milby
Age: 29
Hometown: Tipp City, Ohio USA
Occupation: Swing Dance Instructor
Position in Rugby: Flanker

Why Rugby? What got you started?

I've been playing sports almost my whole life. My parents exposed me to virtually everything when I was a toddler so trying new things has never been a big challenge for me. I was a competitive ice skater when I was a kid and and then when I stopped skating, I did a 180 degree change and started playing American football on the boys team. I got a taste of contact sports and really enjoyed it! So when I went to college, I started playing rugby and have been hooked ever since!

What is your biggest accomplishment in Rugby?

 I'd honestly like to think that my biggest accomplishment hasn't happened yet but of the things that I have done so far - I think that when I was chosen to play for the state of Ohio in U23's after I had been playing just one season felt really good because it showed that I had a natural knack for this sport. But here in the Philippines, I think it was being chosen to be captain for the Lady Volcanoes 15s team. Not only was it the last thing I expected, but it was also such an honor to have that motivation to step up my game and lead by example.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

I am a BIG advocate of lifting weights. The myth is that girls who lift weights will get big, but our bodies just aren't designed that way. Strength training is so important in rugby, that leaving this component out would be a big mistake. I also focus on eating a balanced diet consisting of clean proteins, vegetables, and complex carbs. Good input = good output

Where do you draw your inspiration from?   

I draw inspiration from lots of different sources. Strong women excelling in sports, good movies where the hero has lots of obstacles to overcome, and great quotes from great people all fuel me in addition to just wanting to be the best athlete I can be.

What do you want to say to girls who are just starting out or who are thinking of playing rugby?

If you like active sports where you get to be outside and play with a great group of women, then rugby could be for you. We are always looking to recruit more ladies and take the time to teach you the basics so you don't feel overwhelmed. Rugby is a great way to get and stay in shape too. If you are curious to know more before you actually try it, you can even come out and just watch a practice - that's what I did when I first moved here! 

Cassie Umali

Name: Cassie Umali
Age: 26
Hometown: Chicago, USA & Quezon City, Philippines
Occupation: Sportscaster
Position in Rugby: Scrum-half

Why Rugby? What got you started?

I was co-hosting a sports show on ANC back in January 2010. I was tasked to produce and host a segment on the show to feature the Philippine Rugby Football Union. That’s when I interviewed coach Matt Cullen and he told me of the development of rugby union in the Philippines and the success of the Volcanoes. Then he mentioned to me that at the time they would be assembling the 1st ever Philippine women’s rugby team to compete in China that July. My executive producer Bill Velasco, knowing that I was active in playing sports (ultimate frisbee, volleyball, etc), encouraged me to try out for the team.
Not knowing anything at all on how to play the rough sport of rugby, I started attending the rugby 101 sessions at Ultra in April. The first night I attended training I came home with a bloody fat lip and after that I was hooked. The reason I chose to stick to rugby is because I knew not many girls had a total disregard for their own personal safety. I could take the hits & most importantly make the hits, so I knew I had a good chance of making the national team.

What is your biggest accomplishment in Rugby?

Unfortunately since I only started learning the sport April 2010, I didn’t have much experience yet to make the National squad that went to Guangzhou, China. But I was determined to be part of the team, so I worked really hard. Attending all training sessions, games and absorbed everything I could from the coaches & players.
Then eventually joined the development camp in Laos that October 2010 to play my 1st international match. But it was when I was chosen as part of the 1st ever Philippine team to play in the prestigious Hong Kong 7s in March of 2011 as my biggest accomplishment. Being that there were only 10 girls drafted for the team, I felt so privileged to be part of that historic squad and play for the country. It was thrilling to know that a whole year of hard work paid off.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

Number 1 factor as you might have already realized in my previous answers is hard work. The time and effort must be put into training for personal improvement of skills and fitness, so I can be the best rugby player that I can be.
Second, and I always share this with my teammates is the mental & emotional aspect of motivating myself and positively visualizing playing great rugby. This is important because for me confidence is about 80% of being able to play rugby. As I’ve experienced before I didn’t know how to play but I had the confidence and I still survived. When training and knowing that I’ll be facing giants in international IRB matches, it's this mental toughness & positivity that gets me through. In reality I may be one of the smallest on the team BUT in my mind I believe I’m colossal and so invincible that I can take down anyone.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

I’ve been playing various sports since I was a kid so my sports idols vary from Michael Jordan to Leila Barros to Manny Pacquiao. Then for rugby I always get inspired from watching a team of players that are already close to us. Whenever I watch the Philippine Volcanoes play with pride and win honor for the country, it always makes me wanna get on the pitch and accomplish that as well for the women’s team.

What do you want to say to girls who are just starting out or who are thinking of playing rugby?

If you are a girl that likes a challenge then rugby is the sport for you. As physically demanding as it may be, it also takes heart to play the game. Being a rugger is a great test of character and you will meet many people here with the same aspects. We are all friends and we protect each other on and off the field. And we always welcome new recruits & beginners to the team and to our barkada. So just come down to Ultra and most likely I might be one of the coaches that would personally train you.

Susan Konstanty

Name: Susan Konstanty
Age: 38
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Occupation: Engineer
Position in Rugby: Hooker/coach


At what point did you decide that coaching rugby would be in your future? 

I always thought coaching would be a good way to stay involved in the sport and also to give back to the sport. My first taste of coaching was one season when I was injured I became the assistant coach for my team. I really enjoyed trying to get the best out of the players and being able to pass on the knowledge I had gained over my years of playing.


What brought you to the Philippine Lady Volcanoes? 

Celia Gittus and her request for people to billet the national players during a training camp prior to the Hong Kong sevens 2011. I just didn't think womens Rugby would exist in the Philippines, but here we are and its happening and its growing.


What is you biggest challenge as a coach for the Lady Volcanoes and how do you manage it? 

Trying to learn the words to the National Anthem and I manage it badly. ha ha. Seriously the challenge is in trying to maximise the opportunities for the players to learn and get experience in their positions. We have a some really talented athletes in the squad and one thing holding them back is experience. This year I am trying to get more games for the players and develop a new team here in Manila, so we can at least compete on a regular basis in domestic competition.


What are your goals for the team and how close are you to achieving those goals? 

Winning the Div 2 15s in June on home soil. I would say we are about 3 months away from achieving that.


Any words to live by that you want to impart to the team and to other Filipina rugby players just starting out? 

I am not a big one for motivational quotes. But I will say Rugby is the ultimate team sport. You put your body on the line for your teammates and without combining and working as a team you will always be limited in what you can achieve. Of all the sports I have played I enjoy Rugby the most because of this aspect. It is also a game that you get out what you put into it, so I am a big advocate for hard work. The fitter and stronger you are the more you will enjoy this game. Rugby has many aspects to it. Not only do you have to try to physically overpower your opponent, you also have to have skills and be able to think and react to situations. This is very difficult to maintain at a high level if the team is fatigued and if you haven't put in the time practicing the skills.

Trixie Pacis

Name: Trixie Pacis
Age: 22
Hometown: Vancouver
Occupation: Student
Position in Rugby: Fly half

Why Rugby? What got you started?
I started playing 10 years ago, simply to try a new sport. What keeps me going is love for the game, love for my teammates (both in Canada and the Philippines), and that adrenaline rush when my team scores a try.

What is your biggest accomplishment in Rugby?
Besides the honor of being captain of the first national 15s team at the ARFU tournament in Laos, my biggest accomplishment was playing in the Volcanoes' first-ever tournament in Guangzhou even though I broke my ankle 8 weeks before and the doctors said I wouldn't recover in time.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?
Visualization: I always put myself in the right mindset for rugby so I can focus at training. When I go to bed after training, I reflect on my performance and on the night before a match, I imagine realistic game situations and visualize myself succeeding.

Step out of my comfort zone: Our coach allows us to modify drills slightly so that we are always challenging ourselves. When I am successful at something like making a pass, I push myself by making the next pass a slightly longer one so that I am always forcing myself to improve.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I'm lucky to have many teammates and coaches who, as role models, inspire me. My sister also plays rugby and motivates me. Most of all, I simply love rugby.

What do you want to say to girls who are just starting out or who are thinking of playing rugby?
For those who are thinking of trying rugby, why not? There is always something to gain from trying new things! For those who are just starting out, persevere. It's a tough sport, but it's the most rewarding one. It teaches us many valuable things (hard work, courage, confidence) and creates irreplaceable friendships since we put our bodies on the line for each other every game. Also, guys respect tough girls

Manila Santos

Name: Manila Santos
Hometown: Quezon City
Occupation: writer, ABS-CBN
Position in Rugby: Prop (7s), Inside Center/8 (15s)

Why Rugby? What got you started?

I've always been involved in some form of semi-contact sports so it was a natural transition for me to go full-contact. I used to be a goalkeeper for all-male football clubs and also involved in flag football so getting hit was nothing new to me. Cassie Umali invited me to try the sport after we met at an Ultimate Frisbee league. After that, coach Matt Cullen invited me to tryout for the first ladies 7s team back in May 2010 after attending two sessions of Rugby 101.

What is your biggest accomplishment in Rugby?

To be part of the Lady Volcanoes that competed and won the B division in our first ARFU 7s tourney in Guangzhou, China in July 2010 was historic for me. Not only did we win four straight games in our division (against Korea, India, Laos and SEA games bronze medalist Malaysia), we also accumulated over 110 pts with ZERO points scored against us. It was unforgettable for me because not only was it my first time ever to play a full game of rugby, i also remember the insane amount of pressure building up after every game because we wanted a total shutout for that tourney! It set the bar for how far we can go in the sport and that's a feeling I bring with me to every tournament we competed in following that.

What one or two things do you currently do in your training that are keys to your success?

I think a big part of being physically effective in rugby lies is in the strength and conditioning training you do in-between practice sessions. Unlike other countries, the Philippines has only started learining about the sport for a little over two years now. Since our bodies aren't as conditioned to take that much impact, we really need to compensate by doing exercises to 'fortify' it.

Another key aspect in preparing for the sport is mental conditioning. In rugby, if you don't commit to a tackle whole-heartedly, the chances of injury will be bigger than if you were fully confident about what you are doing. I usually envision myself making big hits, breaking through tackles and scoring tries because it puts me in a winning mindset that (hopefully) translates during game time.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?

It's hard to describe the exact feeling, but during international tournaments, the moment you step out to the pitch wearing a flag on your uniform and singing the national anthem, a big sense of national pride just comes over and I know I just want to do my best for everybody back home and make them proud to be a Filipino.

What do you want to say to girls who are just starting out or who are thinking of playing rugby?

People seem to generalize rugby as a rough sport. This is of course also true, but being tough enough to play it does not mean you have to be the biggest or strongest player out there. It's also about playing with heart and loving the sport. But you really gotta prepare your body for it. I cannot stress this enough. Especially if you want to play it for a long time, you need to work out and train regularly. Even if you have no idea of what its about, just come out with an open mind thats willing to learn and you'll enjoy it for sure