Rugby union makes inroad in Southern Highlands

By HENRY MORABANG
MENDI MP Pastor Isaac Joseph, who is Mendi Rugby Union patron, wants to ensure that players live their dream when taking up sports such as rugby union.
Pastor Joseph made these remarks while farewelling Mendi Menjals - a rugby union representative team from Southern Highlands province - to the annual Singapore Sevens Rugby Union tournament.
He said rugby union was new in the province but it can unite the province like many other team sports.
Mendi Menjals: Sova Milfred, Terry Toa, Malachi Owen, Johnnie Boii Toank, Jonathan Wangano, Wesley Benny, Felix Tangue, Geno Kima, Simon Young, Alex Haija and Samuel Nap.
Civac Group of Companies managing director Augustine Mano on behalf of the sponsors which included Mabey & Johnson said they started the venture of putting up a Menjal team in 2004 by taking part in the Ipatas Cup and the MRDC Sevens.
“It has given us (the Southern Highlands) the hope to unite the province through sports such as rugby union and rugby league,” Mano said.
PNG Rugby Union president Graham Osborne commended the initiative taken to introduce rugby union to the people of Southern Highlands province.
Osborne said that with Mendi joining the rugby fold, PNGRFU now has 14 affiliates and will be going places in 2008.
He said PNGRFU endorsed Mendi Menjal as the representative team from Papua New Guinea taking part in the Singapore Nines.
Osborne said that with the backing of the corporate sectors he believed that Mendi would be a force to be reckoned with during the Super Fours qualifying tournament - the provincial championships.
He also commended and praised John Kapi Natto, a true figure of Southern Highlands, in supporting almost every sports in PNG.