Ex-Pukpuks skipper speaks up after slump on world stage

By MICHAEL PHILIP
THE recent poor performances by the men’s and women’s national rugby 7s teams during the World Rugby Challenger Series in Dubai and Uruguay has prompted former players to speak out, showing their interest to help the team.
Former Pukpuks captain Henry Kalua told The National that the Pukpuks and Palais lacked proper structural management that would help, guide and develop the talented boys in the team.
Kalua, who retired in 2019, urged the PNG Rugby Union together with Pukpuks and Palais coaching management to consider their views to better develop rugby 7s in the country.
Meanwhile, PNGRU chief executive Sailosi Druma said in a statement “our office is always open. They (former players) know where we are. If they have help that they can offer, we are happy to hear them out”.
Kalua said the current squad was the best and “we admire them”.
“We talk about speed, they have it, we talk about height, they have it, we talk about form and fitness they have it, they’ve got everything to be the best attacking team in the competition at the world stage.
“All we’re worried about is the rugby 7s structure. There is no structure in the game currently as I am speaking.
“These boys need a proper training and coaching structure instilled that will ignite their performance at the international level.”
Kalua said the PNGRU should recruit former players into the team to help develop a better coaching and structure of training for the players.
“They’re the best team. They just need a good management on and off the field,” he said.
“To be honest, Rugby 7s has been improving every year. If we continue to go old school, we won’t make it.
“That’s why we’re saying structure. It all comes back to structure. These boys need an experience team in the squad.
“We are here just waiting for the door to open for us to go in and help.
“This is not a club team so we can just walk in at our own interest.
“It’s a national team, they need to reach out to us.”