PNGRU accepts blame

PAPUA New Guinea Rugby Union president Paul Siwi has accepted the blame for the national team’s 0-152 thrashing by Fiji in their Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship opener on Saturday.
The Massey Park clash in Pukekohe, Auckland, New Zealand, saw Fijiana score unanswered 22 tries to record their highest score on their international stage.
Siwi said yesterday that the hammering was an indication that all the unions in the country would need to work harder to improve the standard of the code.
“We must remember that the PNG women’s team (Cassowaries) are amateurs who play casual rugby and they played against a professional Super Rugby outfit,” he said.
“Fiji are the Super Rugby Women’s champions and it’s just their inaugural season.
“This was expected, it is what it is.
“It shows the state of our unions, its shows the state of the game played in our competitions. Our 18 unions have a lot of work to do.
“But if anyone has to take the blame, blame me as president of PNG Rugby Union.
“I stand by my team, I stand by what the unions give me, I stand by the Cassowaries and will stand behind every PNG rugby team that leaves our shores during my reign.
“We were thrashed, but we will learn from that experience and re-group and do better.
“One scoreline won’t change our resolve. PNG rugby is getting back on track, doing all the right things and reviving the game.
“We must believe in the process and systems we are building, we must never lose hope.
“We will get back on track,” said this week.
The Cecil Davani-coached Cassowaries will face Samoa at Navigation Homes Stadium this afternoon.
Their final game will be against Tonga at Massey Park on Sunday.