Pukpuks named for Cup

PNG to hosts SI, Niue and Nauru in rugby tourney

RUGBY Papua New Guinea chairman Syd Yates has announced the national men’s rugby squad for the Oceania Cup which kicks off at the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Aug 23.
Yates also announced the appointment of Bill Rapilla as Pukpuks head coach yesterday.
Rapilla is part of the national selectors’ panel, which includes Robin Tarere and Sydney Wesley, by virtue of his role as coach.
The Oceania Rugby Cup, which ends on Aug 31, will feature the Solomon Islands, Niue, Nauru and hosts PNG. Details on ticket sales will be announced soon.
The Oceania Rugby Cup was first played across PNG, New Caledonia, Tahiti and the Cook Islands in 2007.
Rugby PNG will host the Oceania Cup for the next four years, with Yates saying that it is the perfect opportunity to grow the game in the country, in light of the challenges surrounding the hosting of such events.
“To have the rights to host the Oceania Cup is indeed a huge boost to our morale,” Yates said in a statement.
“It’s an indication of Oceania Rugby’s acknowledgement that we have turned the corner in sorting our issues and putting rugby back on track.
“Port Moresby provides the perfect backdrop for the tournament.
“As the hosts of the 2015 Pacific Games, the 2016 Fifa U19 Women’s World Cup and the 2018 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, Port Moresby has the infrastructure, facilities and services to cater for visiting teams, supporters, tournament officials and dignitaries.
Key inclusions in this year’s tournament will see Nauru make their international debut while Niue return to the international 15s stage after eight years.
Seeking to invigorate 12s rugby across its development and performance unions, Oceania Rugby competitions manager Wayne Schuster said the tournament would hopefully inspire more competitive pathways.
“There is an immense amount of potential across our Western Pacific nations to grow and develop the 15s game,” Schuster said.
“Through the increased meaningful competitions, and training and education programmes we’ve undertaken, we look forward to seeing these nations joining other Pacific nations of Fiji,
Samoa and Tonga at the higher levels of competition. We are sincerely grateful to Rugby PNG and the country for their foresight in hosting this year’s Oceania Cup.
“We are excited about their vision to grow the competitiveness of the 15s game not only in PNG but also across other developing nations in the region.”
The tournament structure will see one main pool and round-robin playoffs, with the first round to begin on Aug 23.
Port Moresby is earmarked to be the catalyst to host a regular 15s tournament for Oceania
Rugby’s tier-three nations as part of increasing competitiveness across the region, according to the statement.
Pukpuks: Freddy Andale, Tony Sipa, Ahulo Ottio, Moseley Aimesa, Cecil Davani, Geti Raka, Monty Diave, Arthur Clement, Freddy Rova, Tisa Kautu, Wesley Vali, Jonah Kautu, Bomai Kaupa, Emil Latumahina, Ken Vagi, Derek Paraka, James Lumaris, Robin Lomai, David Punion, Markham Tanele, Henry Turadawai, Willie Kalai, Max Vali, Thomas Singoina, David Kura, Ezekiel Dauko, Eddie Carl, Louis Modudula, Jordan Seladi, Eliuda Hosea.
Team management – Billy Rapilla (head coach), Pettowa Paraka (assistant coach) Raymond Romalus (team Manager), Billy Ame (trainer).
Fixtures: Fri, Aug 23 – Solomon Islands v Niue (1pm), PNG v Nauru (3.30pm); Tue, Aug 27 – Solomon Islands v Nauru (1pm), PNG v Niue (3.30pm); Sat, Aug 31 – Niue v Nauru (1pm), PNG v Solomon Islands (3.30pm).