Rugby 10s opens Morobe comp

MOROBE rugby union will start their pre-season this weekend with a 10-a-side competition.
The matches will be played at SCRUM (Supporters Club Rugby Union Morobe) oval with the city’s six established clubs Harlequins, Royals, Reds, Pirates, Defence and Viking Dogs participating along with teams from the suburbs and other  parts of the province.
The other teams are NARI (National Agricultural Research Institute), Markham, Buimo, PolyTech (formerly Lae Tech) Rams and 9-Mile.
The rugby 10s competition will end next weekend which will then see two weeks of 15s rugby before the season begins in mid May.
The 10s matches will also used by Morobe rugby officials to select two teams – a senior and development  side – for the PNG rugby national sevens tournament scheduled for June.
Lae is likely to be the venue for this event as it affords easy access for the majority of the country’s rugby union-playing centres.
Meanwhile, next Thursday will see SCRUM host a school rugby expo with teachers, sports masters and students from schools invited to attend to undergo skills, coaching and refereeing clinics.
The programme is scheduled to run for two days.