School rugby competition set for first matches, says coordinator

By PARKER TAMBUA
THE National Capital District Schools Rugby League will host its round-one Under-18 matches as a curtain-raisers to the Digicel Cup preliminary final between the Rabaul Gurias and Hela Wigmen on Sunday.
Competition coordinator Arnold Gende told The National yesterday that there were only four girls’ teams and eight boys’ sides in the competition.
He said Kila Kila Secondary would play Hohola Demonstration (12.30pm kick-off) and Kaugere Pirimary would meet Taurama Primary (1.25pm) before the Gurias-Wigmen clash (3pm).
“We will kick off our five-round season this weekend,” Gende said.
“For the boys’ division, they will be playing all their games on Saturday at Sir John Guise Stadium.
“We have eight schools taking part in the boys’ divisions so they’ll have four games each week while the girls will have two.
“The curtain-raisers will give the girls more confidence and exposure as they will play in front of a big crowd.”
He said there would not be any finals this season but a selection trial would be organised at the end of the five rounds. Gende said the trials would be good for talent identification, with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) planning to field an U20 SP Hunters side in the Queensland Rugby League’s junior competition.
“PNGRFL has some plans with this programme and I believe the chairman (Sandis Tsaka) will talk more on that later,” he said.
Gende said PNGRFL was looking to secure sponsors and they were expecting an announcement soon.