Pukpuks punching above their weight

IT is always uplifting and heartening to see our national sports teams perform well in international tournaments.
Apart from the benefits the nation gains through positive publicity, top performances are a huge boost to those behind sports development and those financing it.
For example, the performance of the Pukpuks during the HSBC rugby sevens world series in Sydney, Australia, and in Hamilton, New Zealand, in the past two weekends, showed how far the development of rugby, albeit the other code and its abbreviated form, has come.
The flair, artistry and determination of the Papua New Guinea players were thrilling and a joy to watch. One would have thought that PNG had been a regular participant in the annual series over the years.
Those who have been following the annual HSBC world rugby sevens series know that defeating regular participants Spain and France is no mean feat. But the Pukpuks not only did that but they did it with style, handing France – which is among the top 10 teams in the rugby world – a 35-0 drubbing in front of a sellout crowd at the Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Minnows in world rugby such as PNG are not supposed to cause big upsets in top-level competition. It caught most – especially their opponents – by surprise. The crowd was stunned and gave the Pukpuks a standing ovation after their final game. The reaction of the crowd best sums up how far the PNG team has come.
The world rugby sevens series is televised to millions of viewers around the globe. The chants of “PNG! PNG!” reverberating around Waikato Stadium would surely equate to millions of kina in tourism promotion.
The annual series is widely followed because top rugby-playing nations such as New Zealand, England, South Africa, France, Wales, Argentina and Scotland are regular participants.
Although it is the abbreviated code only, it is still thrilling to watch because it displays individual skills in a fast-paced and intense competition. Many outstanding rugby players in 15s attribute their success to the development of their skills in sevens.
For the Pukpuks, making a mark on the world stage shows how some developing nations are catching up fast with the top-tier countries.
They cannot and should not be underestimated anymore.
In fact, those not too conversant with the progress of sports development in PNG would not have understood the titanic effort put into developing and preparing a team for such world tournaments.
A great team effort. The players, officials, administrators, sponsors and supporters deserve a big pat on the back. The challenge now for the PNG rugby union administration is to keep the momentum going and go up a notch or two.
It can be done.
Agreed, we are forming an opinion based on just two rugby tournaments. But those who were closely watching would have noted the consistency in performance during the tournaments in Sydney and Hamilton. It augurs well for the future of PNG rugby.
The positive to get out of all this is that the Pukpuks have proved that we have talented and dedicated athletes who, if provided the proper and right training, development and support, can be right up there with the best in the world in any code.
It is no longer just a dream.