Women’s 7s team to debut

A PAPUA New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) women’s sevens team will make their debut at the annual Pacific Military Women’s Sevens tournament in Canberra on Friday.
A team of 12 players with coaching staff left for Canberra yesterday with the aim of being competitive in the two-day tournament.
Head coach Peter Waiga said the bulk of his team had not played rugby in their lives but he was positive that his side would do well.
“Most of these girls haven’t played rugby (sevens and 15s) in their lives,” Waiga said.
“We invited any interested female officers based in Port Moresby to join the team and only 16 women did so.
“We played a couple of trials over the last two months against Capital Rugby Union clubs and we dropped four players.”
Waiga said the only experienced player in the side was captain Jean Yalon, who is a former PNG Palais player.
“Jean (Yalon) has the experience, she is fast and has the agility which is a positive for the team.
“We also have Rachael Apisai who is a young upcoming talent. She has the power and speed out wide and will be a threat.”
The tournament — which ends on Saturday — will feature teams from Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Cook Islands, Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Waiga, on behalf of the team, thanked the PNGDF for its support.