José Romelo Lagman is the official photographer for Rugby Canada and has covered the National Senior Men's Team in international tournaments since 2006. He has photographed games from Victoria to St. John's, from Toronto to Twickenham, from beer leagues to the RWC. He's widely published in Canada and Europe, most recently on RUGBY WORLD and SCRUM. He is a member for the Toronto Buccaneers RFC.

José was born in Angeles City in the Philippines. He graduated cum laude with a B.S.Mathematics degree from the University of Santo Tomas and has lived/worked in Malaysia, Mexico, USA and Canada. He is currently based in Toronto but his extended hometown includes Montréal, Victoria, Vancouver, St.John's and Mexico City. He's been taking photographs since he was 13.

Special thanks to the Toronto Nomads RFC. Much love and respect to Davis Kelo [1988-2007].




Credits for published work for print, TV&Video, CD, and internet [rugby and others]

PRINT
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2011 Rugby Calendar | Jul 2010 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | 12 of 12 Photos and Cover
RUGBY DAY IN CANADA | Jun-Jul 2010 | Cover and inside pages
RUGBY DAY IN CANADA | May 2010 | Cover and inside pages
SCRUM [Ontario] | Fall 2009 | Cover and inside pages
SCRUM [Ontario] | Summer 2009 | Cover and inside pages
The Globe and Mail, Sports Section | 06 Jul 2009 | Page S-1
2010 Rugby Calendar | Jul 2009 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | 12 of 12 Photos and Cover
Canada-Ireland Game Tickets | 23 May 2009
Rugby Canada 2009 Season Program | May 2009 | Pages 4-5, 6-7, 38, 40, 50
The Telegram [St.John's, NL] | 30 May 2009 | Page B1
Irish American News [Ohio, USA] | May 2009 | Cover
SCRUM [Ontario] | Spring 2009 | Cover and inside pages
SCRUM [Ontario] | Winter 2008-09 | Cover and inside pages
North Shore News [Vancouver, BC] | Nov 2008
SCRUM [Ontario] | Fall 2008 | Cover and inside pages
MIDI OLYMPIQUE [Paris, France] | 01 Sep 2008 | Page 52
RUGBY WORLD | Sep 2008 | Pages 120-121
The Citizen [Gloucestershire, UK] | 11 Aug 2008 | Page 35
Ottawa Citizen | Aug 2008
2009 Rugby Calendar | Jul 2008 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | 10 of 12 Photos and Cover
2009 "Challenge" Calendar | Jul 2008 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | Photo for March
2009 "Success" Calendar | Jul 2008 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | Photo for February
Kings County Record [Sussex, NB] | 22 Apr 2008 | Section C
Eye of the Phoenix - a book by Gary David | Feb 2008
Village Magazine [Ireland] | Sep 2007
RE/MAX Times [USA] | Sep 2007
Chill Magazine [The Beer Store] | Aug 2007 | Pages 74-75
Prena Sport [France] | Aug 2007
2008 Rugby Calendar | Jul 2007 | Wyman Publishing Ltd. | 8 of 12 Photos
The Spirit of Bordeaux [France] | Summer 2007 | Page 24
Rugby Canada - Kono Catalogue | Centrex Sports
Canadian Org. of Campus Activities Book | Jun 2007
National Rugby Post | Vol. 20 No. 2 Apr-May 2007 | Rugby Canada Section, Pages 4, 6
Pikto Photography Workshop Brochure | Spring/Summer 2007 | Cover, Page 2
Mapal� Artes y Letras | Primavera/Spring 2007
2007 Young Alumni Magazine | University of Western Ontario | Mar 2007 | Page 8
Hewlett-Packard Z3100 Postcard | The Drafting Clinic Canada Ltd. | Feb 2007
Team Canada 2007 Calendar | 01 Jan 2007
Stand by a Rugby Brother 2007 Calendar | 01 Jan2007
Toronto 2007 Calendar | 01 Jan 2007
The Globe and Mail Performance Magazine | Winter 2006 | Page 16
Rugby Ontario Annual | Dec 2006
Toronto Irish News | Dec 2006 | Page 18
Toronto Hispano Magazine | Dec 2006 | Edici�n 3
National Rugby Post | Vol. 19 No. 5 Oct-Nov 2006 | Pages 3, 6-8, 27
Scottish Rugby Game Program [Scotland] | Nov 2006
Latin Life News | Sep 2006
National Post | 26-Jul-2006 | Page A-7
Il Bergamo [Italy] | 21 Jul 2006 | 'Il Gruppo' section
Post City Magazines | Summer 2006
Edinburgh Evening News [Scotland] | 16-Jun-2006 | Sports Section, Page 49
FAME Swimsuit Magazine | Summer/Fall 2006 Premier Edition | Page 56
Canadian Art Magazine | 15 Mar 2006 | Spring 2006 Issue | Page 40, Table of Contents
Eye Weekly | 26 Jan 2006 | Page 4
Eye Weekly | 29 Dec 2005 | Page 8
Toronto Star | 18 Dec 2005 | Page C-8
Beach Metro | Vol.34 No.16 | 15 Nov 2005 | Front Page
Toronto Sun | 26 May 2005 | Page 4


TV&Video, CD
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"Much News" on Much Music | 15 Jun 2009
"Cruzando Fronteras" CD by Mario Gonzalez | 2008 | Front and back covers
Greg Hobbs CD | Oct 2007 | Inside cover and liner notes
"Behind the Camera" on Discovery HD | Sep 2007
"SportsWorld" on The Score TV | Hosted by James Sharman | 01-Mar-2007
"Into a NewMindSpace" Documentary DVD | Atomic Penguin Productions | Jul 2006
Maneli Jamal CD | Nov 2006 | cover and notes


INTERNET
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IRB
Rugby Canada
Canadian Rugby News
Canadian Rugby
Toronto Nomads RFC
Toronto Xtreme RFC
Marshall Premiership Rugby
Oakville Crusaders RFC
Balmy Beach RFC
Brampton RFC
Irish Canadian RFC
North Halton Highlanders RFC
McMaster University Athletics
Fletcher's Fields
Barclays Churchill Cup

Rugby Football Union [England]
England Rugby [England]
Bath Rugby [England]
Leicester Tigers [England]
London Irish [England]
Scottish Rugby [Scotland]
Edinburgh Gunners RFC [Scotland]
Glasgow Warriors [Scotland]
Tercer Tiempo [Chile]
American Rugby News [USA]
Canadian American Rugby News
Mobile Score [USA]
Gratuit Sport [France]
The Globe and Mail
CBC [Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]

Bristol Rugby [UK]
Women's Sports Report [UK and USA]
Wasps Rugby [UK]
Martlet [Victoria, BC]
Richmond and Twickenham Times [UK]
Leeds Carnegie [UK]
Stockport Express [UK]
Rugby Fun [Argentina]
Rugby Field [Portugal]


ABOUT JRL
------------------

KEEPING IN FOCUS - JOSÉ ROMELO LAGMAN
by Mike Webb
Victoria, BC

April 09, 2008
http://206.191.48.235/index.php?lang=en&page_id=10&news_id=3941


Do you ever wonder where the photos on this website and the bulk of the Rugby Canada publications come from? Vast portions come from Rugby Canada's little known official photographer, who while staying away from the public eye- has managed to capture the interest of it.

Rugby Canada's official photographer is Jose Lagman. And while this may not be a name that you may recognize- his work is unmistakable.

Jose most recently was at Shawnigan Lake to capture all the action of the National Senior Men�s Sevens team training, the National Senior Academy athletes in action, and also the exciting under-20 final selection match.

Jose travels around the country to Rugby Canada events from time to time, staying in hostels, and relishes meeting new and interesting people. His most recent trip to Victoria and Shawnigan Lake was his first, and certainly will not be his last. Jose fell in love with the west coast, and plans to return as soon as possible to tour- and, of course, shoot more rugby.

Travel is nothing new for Lagman, having moved around the world throughout his youth and into his adult years. His travels have surely influenced his creative and artistic side, being raised and living in scenic parts of the world.

Jose was born in the shadow of the Pinatubo volcano in the Philippines, and received his formal education in his home country, culminating with an honors mathematics degree in Manila. Lagman has lived and worked in Malaysia, Mexico, the USA, and has now made his home in Toronto.

Jose discovered his love for photography at age 13, on compact film cameras and continued to work with the inexpensive devices until his older years. Ready to take his photography to a new level, in 2005, Jose saved for an entire year, and bought himself a digital SLR camera.

A friend who invited him to a match, hoping that he may take some photos, first introduced Jose to rugby. Jose obliged, and was immediately convinced that he had seen the best sport on earth. He then honed his skills throughout the summers filming the Toronto Nomads rugby club, and their rivals, the Nomads being the group that Jose credits for welcoming him to rugby.

Jose remembers well his big break, when he was named the official Rugby Canada photographer for the 2006 Churchill Cup. Rugby Canada were so pleased with his work, that his status as official photographer has been retained through the 2006 November tests, the 2007 Churchill Cup, and much to his absolute delight; the 2007 Rugby World Cup in Bordeaux, France, and onward.

In chatting with Jose on our drive up to Shawnigan, he said that he fondly recalls shooting the NSMT versus Japan in the Rugby World Cup in Bordeaux, both because of the fine shots he was able to take, but also because he had a chance to check out the technologically advanced Japanese media's cameras!

Jose has a strong following with the players that he photographs and has come to know. The players respect Jose's work and commitment to rugby, and often remark that they did not even know he was at the practice or match until they receive an e-mail of photos from Jose himself.

As rugby does not get a great deal of media coverage in Canada, the players are happy to have the services of a man like Jose, who volunteers his time, expertise, and photos to raise the profile of rugby in Canada. This provides Rugby Canada, who pays Jose's travel expenses, a cost effective alternative to using a large photography company.

Jose credits the depth of his rugby background and knowledge to his long discussions on the rugby in Canada with Simon Allen, a retired rugby player and writer, who mentored Jose to travel coast to coast shooting rugby, immerse himself in the game, and to try his hand at playing rugby; in the hopes of better understanding its cultural and physical intricacies.

When shooting sport, Jose always prefers rugby, however, he does also like to shoot wrestling, boxing, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Outside of sport, Jose's interests are wide and varied, working on environmental portraits, and Toronto's Latin and folk music scene.

Jose has been published in numerous Canadian and European publications, and has been featured on TV: "The Score" and "Discovery HD".

Jose works full time and photographs as often as possible, but also makes time to turn out for his beloved Toronto Buccaneers rugby club.

We are truly lucky to have a tremendously talented photographer in Jose Lagman who is committed so deeply to rugby, and bringing faces to names, and a thousand words to a score line.

A sampling of Jose's outstanding work can be seen at www.pbase.com/joselagman.


Mike Webb
Rugby Canada
Athlete Services Manager
National Senior Academy