Rugby union empowers island folk

 Bougainville Rugby Union embarked on a new strategy to strengthen and empower the grassroots or the community through rugby union.

Head of Rugby Development Kelly Havara has initiated the first ever community based rugby festival that mirrors his already established and successful Pacific in Union Program on Bougainville. 

“The festival is about building a strong community with positive values and aligning the school children playing the PIU program to their local rugby clubs in their community. Creating role models within the community,” Havara said.

“Rugby has proven to be a successful formula in seeing a brighter future for Bougainville.

“We have two current Pukpuks training for the Commonwealth Games and we recently won the U19 and U16 National Sevens Girls Championship,” he added.

The community rugby festival will run for five months travelling from constituency to constituency. It has been likened to the IRB circuit or the Coca-Cola sevens circuit.

The festival will culminate in the Black Orchid Tournament in October.