Highlanders, Pukpuks taking part in Marist 7s

PLAYING in this weekend’s Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens tournament will be a big boost to the Papua New Guinea Highlanders.
The team hail from Southern Highlands that recently embraced the sport and recruited former Fijian rugby star Seremaia Bai, pictured, as the face of a new wave of sevens development there.
While the code is virtually non-existent in the oil-rich province, Bai in partnership with sports marketing company Game Plan Pacific, have already etched a plan to promote the code.
They have successfully staged the Highlands 7s inaugural Petroleum Resources Kutubu Souths tournament at Ialibu, where they have selected a team for the Marist 7s tournament.
Highlands Rugby Sevens chief executive officer Jims Rekisa was excited of the new challenge especially to break into the rugby league stronghold province.
Bai has been working on the project with associate Vueti Tupou from the Rugby Academy of Fiji.
The duo will bring their wealth of experience to not only help grow the sevens game in the rugby union starved Highlands region.
They hope to use the sport and their influence to also help change mindsets and the attitudes.
Rekisa said the duo had joined former Pukpuks star Paul Joseph, who was already on the ground doing the early preparation.
Rekisa said they were fortunate to take part in the highly popular two-day Marist 7s tournament, which starts on Friday at the ANZ Stadium, Suva.
Rekisa also confirmed the inclusion of rugby league coach Andy Andiki to take the reins of the Highlanders.
Also joining the Highlanders are the Pukpuks, who played in the recent HSBC Sevens Series tournaments in Sydney and Hamilton.
The Highlanders are in Pool 11 with Police White, Skaffworks and Draunivau Sharks.
The Pukpuks are in Pool 3 with Army 2, M16 Blues Navakaoca-Taveuni and Ratu Filise Development. – Fiji Sun