By SUSAN OREAPE-FARAPO
PAPUA New Guinea will host the biggest ever rugby union tournament in the Oceania region at the end of this month.
The Pacific 7s is sanctioned by the world body the International Rugby Board.
The board gave the green light for PNG to host the tournament for the next five years (2007-2011).
The Pacific 7s challenge will be played in Port Moresby on Nov 30-Dec 1 at Lloyd Robson Oval.
PNG won the right to host the event after winning the bid ahead of its Oceania counterparts in July this year.
The challenge has confirmed participation by more than ten countries from the Pacific region including a team from Australia. New Zealand would not be sending a team but the NZ Maoris will be invited next year.
According to tournament organiser Cybil Druma, this is the first ever rugby union tournament to be staged in the region and PNGRFU is prepared to host the event.
“Preparation is going well with PNG to choose a strong side for the big match,” Druma said.
She said there will be tournaments held in Port Moresby leading up to the Pacific 7s. This will be use to identify players for both men and women to represent PNG.
The women’s Rookie sevens will be played on Nov 22-23 from which two teams will be chosen and the final players will be chosen.
She said it will cost up to K700,000 to prepare and run the tournament.
Druma has called on corporate companies and supporters to back the tournament as it will be bigger and the first tournament for PNG to host.
The participating countries are: Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, Australian Aborigines, Wallis & Futuna and Vanuatu. In the women’s, Samoa, Fiji, and Niue will be sending teams.