PNG out to restore pride

PAPUA New Guinea are seeking redemption when the new world sevens series gets underway on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The Australian leg is the only one PNG will feature in this season after they missed out on the semi-finals at the Oceania qualifying tournament.
To make matters worse the team lost their captain through injury and another player lost his mum and has withdrawn from the team.
They’ve been included in a tough pool with Pacific Games and Oceania champs Samoa, regular contenders Argentina and France.
Coach Shane Howarth admits that, after missing out on a spot in Wellington and Hong Kong, Gold Coast is about proving themselves.
“Jason Missian and Gairo Varo have come in. Gairo is quite a wiry strong forward and Jason is a very clever playmaker so they’re the new boys – the rest of the guys have been to both the tournaments we’ve been to.
“I’m just looking forward to seeing how we go and how other teams are shaping.
“I just want us to make a statement that we actually could be competitive at these tournaments if we were a core side.”