Greater Sepik Sevens rugby tourney set

By ROBINSON LEKA
THE Greater Sepik Sevens rugby union tournament is set to kick off tomorrow in Wewak, East Sepik, with 17 teams confirmed for the two-day event.
Tournament director Immanuel ToMarum said 12 men’s and five women’s teams would compete in the invitational, which would round out the province’s Get into Rugby (GIR) festival for the year.
“We initially had 16 men’s teams, but four had to pull out due to logistical and financial constraints, so we will go ahead with 12 men’s and five women’s sides,” he told The National yesterday.
“The Agmark Nines rugby league challenge was the first big tournament in the province, so we were working with its organisers in enforcing their protocols for the local and visiting teams.
“The sevens tournament is also another event that has been approved by the provincial authority and we’ll again ensure that everyone complies with the Niupela Pasin measures.”
ToMarum said the province would kick off the festival today with Papua New Guinea Rugby Union running clinics for students in Wewak.
“We’re working with the federation to have rugby union skills and coaching clinics during the festival and there are going to be deaf rugby matches on Saturday,” he said.
“We also want to have some more of our people in Sepik to be a part of the game, so this should be a good weekend for us.”
Teams: Men – Rabaul Stallions (East New Britain), 15 City Pirates (West New Britain), Maprik Crane Crushers, Sepik Tenkiles One, Sepik Tenkiles Two, West Coast Mumuts, Sepik Development (East Sepik), 6B Pirates, Spartans, Malabags, Kalibobo Gunners (Madang), Royals (Morobe); Women – Nova (Port Moresby), Rabaul Stallions (ENB), Kimbe Palms (WNB), Sepik Tenkiles, West Coast Mumuts.