We need to develop our juniors, says Tarere

 ONE way of strengthening potential Papua New Guinea Pukpuks for the future is by having nationwide training camps for juniors.

Former national coach and SCRUM (Supporters Club Rugby Union morobe) National Rugby Development Officer Robin Tarere (pictured) said this is the only way to get a wider range of skillful players to choose from.  

Tarere believes this is one-way of developing a wider group of higher skilled players to bolster future Pukpuk ranks.

Tarere is the principal behind the highly successful schools competition in Morobe for the past 20 years, largely due to the committed corporate support from the Lae business community.

Current Pukpuks who played in the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) Cup that have successfully come through the programme include Jackson Pato, Mike Mire, Bobby Bulumaris and one of the finds of the series, Butler Morris.

“Some came as young as 10 year olds and now look at them,” he said.

 “The only way for PNG to go forward is to bolster our junior programme nationwide and I urge the PNGRFU to ride on the success of my programme to reach the wider community,” he added.

Tarere said the PNGRFU needs to build up its resource and not rely too much on the IRB (International Rugby Board). 

“We have to bring in sports science to produce the complete footballer with the weight, proper nutritional diet and importantly strength and conditioning to be competitive at the international level,” he said.

He further said the experts are there at the National Sports Institute. 

“If developing junior rugby and building an appropriate pathway is deemed to be a priority area then why isn’t there anything tangible on the ground,” Tarere said.

He said PNG has the capability to produce quality players for the future. “We must work together to ensure that we take our rugby to the next level…we have been stagnant for too long,” he added.