ROB FOGERTY says playing for the Philippines has not only opened another door with his rugby, but also a new world with his family.

Fogerty has done an awful lot in his rugby career at the age of 23. He has played for Lewes at youth level, before going onto play for Hove Colts, Sussex, England Counties, Worthing Raiders, has been involved with the Harlequins set-up and now plays internationally for the Philippines.

However, there was one career choice which has changed his life with the Philippines and Fogarty explained how it came about.

He said: “One of the boys who I was good friends with Ashley Heward was actually already involved with the Philippine Volcanoes 15’s set-up and there was another guy who had also been involved.

“He came up to me at one training session to say he knew my mum was a from Philippine heritage as was his mother and asked what are you doing with this rugby now and I said I have done my England counties and I don’t think that is going to go anywhere now.

“He said why don’t you try and give a Philippines a try and I thought do the Philippines even have a rugby team? My initial reaction was no way I am way too good for this.

“I was trying to get out there when I was 19, but the England stuff was going on so I wanted to focus on just that.

“I decided to go out last year not knowing what to expect, what the standard would be like and it has honestly changed my life.

“Apart from the rugby the biggest thing for me was meeting my family in the Philippines and it was crazy to say at 21 that I had never met my mother’s family.

“I could be playing for the Philippines for the next 10-15 years but that will be my fondest memory.”

Fogerty started playing with the 15’s at the Philippines and spoke about his first try for them against Singapore.

He said: “When I went out there we had a tournament with the 15’s out in the Philippines, I didn’t start the first game and came on in the 68th minute.

“We were losing by a couple and I remember getting on and thinking this heat and humidity is sapping.

“I was only on for a couple of minutes, but I thought my family are here I need to do something special this is my time to show what I can do.

“I got the ball one phase before and thought the next phase I am going to have a go here and got the ball 20 metres out and I had a bit of speed on my opposite man, so I managed to get round him and in just to the side of the post.

“We won the first game and there was so much media there asking for interviews with me.”

He then was asked in the second test to take on an unusual role.

He said: “Four or five days later we played the second test against Singapore and I started that game.

“Usually the fly-half would be the kicker, but our’s pulled his hamstring the day before, so the coach Stu didn’t know me and didn’t know I could kick.

“He asked me can you goal kick and said well I don’t practice, but I know how to strike a ball.

“I ended up having to take the conversions and penalties and managed to outscore the Singapore team with just my boot.”

In December, Fogerty played for the 7’s and captained them to a gold medal in the South Asia games and he spoke about much of an honour it was to lead the country to victory.

He said: “It is something that I genuinely didn’t expect, when I went out there in August/September it was the first leg of the Asia 7’s Series and the coach David Johnson said he wanted me to be captain that was a true honour.

“The last couple of years we have had an established captain in Danny Matthews and Chris Bird, who have been great for the programme but they weren’t there for personal reasons.

“It was new to me because although I have captained at college and at county, to actually captain your country at international level that was something I had to grow into.

“It wasn’t easy at first there are things you need to think about ,what you are doing and account for your teammates as well and your coaches.”

Fogerty has played with Luke Smith who was at Brighton College at youth level and is the younger brother of Marcus Smith who plays professionally at Harlequins and has represented England last year.

Fogerty now plays with Luke for the Philippines and he spoke about he got him involved.

He said: Luke and Marcus both played age group rugby at Brighton Rugby club.

“But Luke most recently he was on tour with me and is 19.

“Luke like me was released by Harlequins so then I got in contact and got him involved with the Philippines set-up.

“He came out and tore it up.”