Stallions duo grateful for sevens call up

By MICHAEL PHILIP
BOTH had the dream of joining the national rugby sevens team and wearing the red, black and gold jumper while playing in the local competitions in Rabaul, East New Britain.
Today, it’s a dream come true for Hodrey Elias and Paul Batari who are both in the current PNG Pukpuks development squad scouted from the Rabaul Stallions during the Sports Tok 7s over the Easter weekend in Port Moresby.
Elias, 23 who hails from the volcanic island, Matupit in Rabaul started his rugby career in 2017 playing for his local club Matupit Diggers in the Rabaul rugby league competition.

“I started playing back in 2017 with a local club back in the village called the Matupit Diggers,” Elias told The National.
“That’s our team from the island so while playing I used to hear about Rabaul Stallions travelling to and from other provinces playing rugby union sevens and I developed that interest in joining them one day.
“I just continued playing in the local competition until in 2022 I got the call-up from the Stallions management to join the team. And that’s where I made my debut game for the club in the Sepik during the 2022 Sepik 7s sponsored by the Sepik Pride.
“I was so excited and happy at finally making a sevens team. The team has done a great job exposing me, giving me the opportunity to travel and see other provinces.
“Big thanks to my family back at home for their support and Anslom Kepas, he’s the guy who helped me a lot to come this far. Also to Stallions team manager Adrian Bibiken for identifying my talent at the local comp and getting me onboard to join the team.”
The Matupit Islander acknowledged the Pukpuks management for his selection into the development squad this year and said he would be working hard to improve fitness and look up to role models in the Pukpuks and Gurias squad who are former Rabaul Stallions in likes of Paul Tono, Kennedy Benjamin and William Tirang.
Rabaul Gurias five-eighth Wesley Batari’s younger brother Paul hails from Tavui in Rabaul and started his rugby career back in 2018 playing for his local club Tavui Giants. The 22 year old made his debut with the Stallions in 2022 in Lae during the Trans Highway 7s.
“I was playing for Tavui Giants when Stallions scouted me,” he said.
“Made my first tour with the team to Lae in 2022 for the Trans Highway 7s, the recent one in Port Moresby was my third time with the team.
“I always look up to boys who graduated from this club, Stallions. They are now playing in the Digicel Cup comp, and some in the Pukpuks.
“I am working hard to follow their footsteps. I want to achieve more while here, this is the best opportunity that I have, I don’t want to miss out. Biggest role model is my brother Wesley Batari.”
With his aim to don the Pukpuks jumper, Batari said he would be committed and making the most of his chances to make his debut at the international level.
For this year, Pukpuks had scouted four Stallions players into their development side.