Union to host 1-day sevens tournament

 By FRANCIS RODNEY PULU

THE PNG Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU) will be hosting a one-day satellite sevens tournament this Saturday at the Bava Park in Port Moresby,  according to Douglas Guise, the current Pukpuks Sevens coach.

Guise said this one day event was part of PNGRFU’s development pathway to identity players that had the potential to make it to the top level of playing football in the country.

He said they would continue to roll out this programme throughout the year in the rural areas of the country and through this concept more players can be identified and added into the wider Pukpuks train-on squad for future events.

The event this Saturday will involve six Capital Rugby Union (CRU) teams that playing against two teams made up of the current 30-men Pukpuks train-on squad for the up and coming Hong Kong Sevens.

The teams are Harlequins, Defence Nova, University, Valley Hunters and Paike.

They teams will be playing against the two teams made up of the members of the Pukpuks train-on squad.

“We are using this concept not only to identify players but also to identify certain people that we think are capable of taking up refereeing and linesmen roles,” he said.

He said while carrying out this programme PNGRFU development manager Sailosi Druma would be conducting referee courses while he (Guise) would players through the basics of the game.  

“The Saturday event will also give me the opportunity to monitor the performance level of the current members of the Pukpuks train-on squad,” he said.

Guise said there would also be other lead up events that the current Pukpuks train-on squad would attend before he finalises his squad for the Hong Kong Sevens.

The targeted rural areas to be visited are Hula and Aroma in Central, Kerema in Gulf and others that would be included later.

Meanwhile Guise said CRU is planning to host a (Powes Parkop) Governor’s cup challenge next weekend at the Bava Park.