Pukpuks name squad

Alu, Clement and Rova among 12 picked for Oceania 7s Champs

HIMAH Alu, Arthur Clement and Freddy Rova have been named in the Papua New Guinea Pukpuks 12-man squad for next month’s Oceania Sevens Championships in Suva, Fiji.
The squad along with two non-travelling reserves were named last week following three selection trials in Port Moresby.
Pukpuks head coach Frank Gabi Jr said the trials last week were important in determining a final team from an initial train-on squad of 21 players.
“We have a couple of regulars in Arthur Clement and Willie Tirang plus a few new faces,” he said.
“The trials were used to pick to our final squad for the tournament at Suva’s ANZ Stadium.
“The 21-man- squad were selected from the national championships in Lae.
“From that squad, we had two players – Manus’ Patrick Tatut and Lae’s Arnold Osom – pull out due to personal reasons.
“From the 19 players, we had to pick our final 12. We named an extra two as injury cover to go into camp until we travel.
“The wider group (of players) were from all centres but we had to pick the best to come so it’s mostly made up of Lae and Moresby boys and one from Rabaul in Tirang.”
The tournament, which will be held from Nov 7-9, will serve as a regional qualifier for next year’s Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
Pukpuks: Himah Alu (Capital Rugby Union), Arthur Clement (CRU), Emil Latumahina (CRU), Robin Loma (National Capital District Rugby Union), Francis Luveni (Lae), Samuel Malambes (NCDRU), Maluai Patala (NCDRU), Freddy Rova (CRU), William Tirang (Rabaul), Debe Tore (CRU), Max Vali (Lae), Shalandra Willy (CRU); Non-travelling reserves – Ben Kilala (Lae), Paul Uro (Lae).