Cats set for Palm Beach tourney

mlipen Normal, Sports

THE Tabubil Cats Rugby Union club is on the verge of sending a team to the Gold Coast for the Palm  Beach 10s on Feb 20-21.
The team has been working overtime since October last year raising  money and  getting support from local business and supporters in Tabubil, Port Moresby and  Australia in order to get a squad of 20 down this weekend. 
The medical clearances, passports and visas  have all had to be arranged and the  club and its keen band of helpers have almost managed to pull it all  together.
Major sponsorship from Downer EMI, TKI Manpower, JTA International  and PMMI has enabled the team to purchase uniforms and boots while Trukai has come on board with training shirts and accessories.
The Australian Rugby Union  has given permission and the visas are being processed, while  the team are  awaiting confirmation from an airline sponsor for  support and it will be “game on.” The Palm Beach 10s takes place over two days on the southern Gold coast  with 20 teams playing a 10 a side format of rugby involving teams from  Sydney, Brisbane, Gold coast, Fiji, NZ and now PNG.
Cats spokesman Nathan Turner said the tournament was another chance for PNG players learn more about the sport and enjoy the experience as well, “It’s an exciting  brand of rugby with all the speed and skills of sevens along with the added  bonus of a couple of the bigger lads up  front expanding the bang and crash  effect seen in the more traditional 15 a side game.”
The team is hoping to capitalise on the crowd support that was shown  to the  recent PNG Defence women’s side at the Byron Bay Sevens last year where a good turn out of  expat Papua New Guineans and ex-PNG  residents came out to support the teams. 
“This support will take the team to the next level and hopefully the Cats can  really impress the  southern name teams with the PNG heart and soul,” he added.
The team needs to secure their airfares and if any  business are willing to assist you may contact Cats RFUC on [email protected] to pledge support.
“All the work that has been put in is entirely voluntary and it’s great  to see  that a small group can accomplish such great things as this  the first in what  is hoped to be an annual tour get off the ground.”