Daru makes come back

 DARU Rugby Union’s (DRU) return to the fold has been attributed to the efforts of Western Province Governor Ati Wobiro.

Total funding in K250,000 paid in 2013 and 2014 to help revive the code and importantly expose the abundance of talent from the tiny island township has paid dividends, said DRU president Kerry Gera.

After so many years of being stagnate, Gera said the last two years has been rewarding for the growing numbers in talent just waiting to showcase their flamboyant brand of rugby at the national level.

Gera said this has been largely due to the change in the administration which has shown cause to the Wobiro administration that it is money well spent.

Other members of the DRU executive are vice-president Aiede May, secretary Grace Iakoe, treasurer Cecil Iakoe, technical director Iko Maisare, referee’s co-ordinator Kevin Sida.

The positive performance of their representative Stingrays team during the two-match southern region clash with the Capital Rugby Union teams last year was testimony to that, said Gera.

“Now with the Stingrays in Port Moresby for the PNGRFU National Provincial Championships sevens, we hope to fly the Western Province flag with pride by showing off what our rural talent can do and bring some positive results,” he added.

Gera said without the input from the Western Province administration a good number of their talented youths would never have this opportunity of a life-time.

“Daru or Western Province for that matter has produced quality players that have the attributes to be successful players for international representation as evidence in the past has shown,” Gera said.

Past Pukpuks in Murray Biyama, late Joey Charlie, Cecil Iakoe, Ame Mowagi, Richard Masere and in recent times Bisai Pude, Lloyd Kepa and Gabriel Biyama are from the province.