BSP supports women’s sevens union team to Fiji

PAPUA New Guinea Women’s 7s rugby union team, the Palais’ bid to maintain supremacy in the region and represent Oceania in the 2013 World Cup, has been strengthened by gear and cash donation from Bank South Pacific for their participation in the qualifying tournament in Lautoka, Fiji.
BSP presented K10,000, travel bags, caps, rugby balls and other items needed for the tournament – the 2012 Oceania Women’s Championships to the team.
The Palai’s leave for Fiji today to compete against other Pacific island nations, including New Zealand and Australia, with the aim of bagging the honours of representing  Oceania in the play-offs in India for a spot in the 2013 World Cup in Moscow, Russia.
BSP’s corporate sponsorship manager Rosemary Mawe wished the team well and said “the bank was confident in the women and knew the support would assist them achieve their objective.”
“The Palais are currently ranked the top team in the Asia-Pacific Region and it would be a bonus to represent Oceania in India and for the World Cup as well,” team coach John Larry said.
Larry thanked BSP for the kind gesture both financially and in kind, and assured that they would take the support further aiming for victory.
“The Palais women rugby union team are in good shape and we believe that we would come out good at the end,” he added.
The Palai’s team will play their last HSBC tournament in Oct in Borneo where they will return to defend their title in the Asia – Pacific Women’s 7s competition.