Sports Tok Sevens tournament pushed back to later this month

THIS year’s Sports Tok Sevens rugby union tournament has been moved to Nov 27-28 at Bava Park in Port Moresby.
Sports Tok franchise owner Elsie Passingan said the tournament was previously given approval for last month (Oct 2-3) by the deputy national pandemic response controller and the Niupela Pasin team.
But the surge in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases reported in Port Moresby had prompted the deferral of the annual tournament.
“We are now working on meeting with the deputy controller and the Niupela Pasin team any time to reaffirm the approval to host the tournament this month,” Passingan said.
“We will be writing to the deputy controller and the Niupela Pasin team requesting to have spectators to attend the tournament as it is a one-off event.
“We are taking this approach most importantly with reference to the notice on Oct 28 by the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation’s pandemic management committee through chairman Dr Kapua Kapua that stated that tournaments are good to go with approval from the controller or the deputy controller and the Niupela Pasin team.
“Hence, it all looks good for us to now host the Sports Tok Sevens later this month.
“Now with the re-opening of the sports venues and allowance of sporting events with approval from the controller or the deputy controller and the Niupela Pasin team under new restrictions, it gives a window of opportunity to host the tournament.
“We are committed to deliver the tournament.
“We advise all teams and players to get vaccinated or tested a week or two in advance to minimise any hiccups before the tournament.”
Passingan said the competition would do all it could to implement the new Covid-19 protocols.