Sevens needs direction

 By HUXLEY LOVAI

RUGBY union in Papua New Guinea in particular sevens, needs to revaluate itself and plot a better course forward for the development of the game in the country.

These were the sentiments of former Pukpuk representative Soiat Williams. 

Given the poor performance of the Pukpuks sevens team at the World Series qualifying event, run concurrently with the Hong Kong Sevens earlier this month, Williams told The National that he was sadden to see the how far PNG sevens rugby had fallen.

“We need to have a national conversation about the future of rugby in PNG,” Williams said

He said rugby union, and in particular rugby sevens, was now a global sport, and with the inclusion of sevens into the Olympic programme, making its debut at the Rio Games later this year, the profile of the game was set to explode.

Williams said that with more nations taking part in the World Rugby’s HSBC Sevens Series and with many other regional tournaments, the international scene had become more competitive and professional.

“Rugby in PNG needs to become semi-professional,” Williams said

“In order for PNG to become competitive in rugby sevens the whole structure of rugby sevens must become professional, from administration to the players. Otherwise, PNG will continue to lag behind the rest of the world.”

Williams said that hosting international rugby sevens tournaments had the potential to be a great revenue earner for the country in relation to sports tourism. 

“The country now has world-class stadiums to host such events, it is only up to rugby administrators to start thinking about ways to use the sevens format to promote the code in the country.”

Williams said it was important to expose the next generation of young men and women to rugby sevens. 

“We should be developing young players,” he said.