Rugby festival attracts schools

By PATRICIA KEAMO
SEVEN primary schools in East Sepik will be participating in the PNG Rugby Union’s (PNGRU) Get into Rugby (GIR) festival this weekend at the Pora Oval in Wewak.
Five of the schools are from Wewak, and one each from Boikin and Angoram.
East Sepik Rugby Union president Immanuel ToMarum said the schools would compete in the Under-12, U14, U16 and open divisions.
The U12 and U14 divisions will each have a male, female and mixed team from each school.
The U16 and open divisions will each have a male and female team from each school.
“Friday will be normal games,” ToMarum said.
“Hopefully, PNG Rugby Union (PNGRU) officials arrive in the afternoon and we will have the opening (of the festival) on Saturday.
“The games will be played over three days with the finals on Sunday.”
ToMarum said the festival had attracted the interest of schools in the rural areas but they had been told to join next year.
“The interest is already here, not only in Wewak but the rural areas,” he said. “I have already sent some GIR kits to Ambunti and the schools there are using them to play.
“I’ve also requested to PNGRU for more kits to give to other schools in the rural areas.”
ToMarum acknowledged the GIR committee and volunteers who assisted in piloting the initiative in East Sepik.
East Sepik is the second province to take part in the festival with Central’s Rigo coast participating in the initiative early this month.
Meanwhile, PNGRU education and training coordinator Sailosi Druma said PNG Palais (national women’s sevens team) selectors would visit Wewak to identify potential players.
“For the U18s, we are definitely looking for potential players to join our wider train-on squad for next year’s programme.”