PNG Pukpuks

Speaking at a press conference, Pukpuks coach, Sydney Wesley said the tournament is an opportunity for his players to gauge their game especially playing against the likes of reigning tournament champions, Russia and other participating teams in Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.

Pukpuks captain, Tisa Kautu added he was proud to be leading the team at the tournament.

“It’s the first time in years that a PNG 15s team has come to Hong Kong to play and I am very proud of our team for making it here,” said Kautu.

The hosts, Hong Kong proved too strong for the Pukpuks running in six tries at the King's Park Sports Ground.

The Pukpuks only try came in the 70^th minute from captain, Tisa Kautu.

The Pukpuks who are taking part in the Cup of Nations tournament for the first time will play their next game on Tuesday against Russia at 5pm (7pm PNG time).

Four teams are taking part- PNG, Russia, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.

After the 2016 National Provincial championships held last weekend in Port Moresby, The PNGRU has selected its extended squad for a 10-day training before training the team down to the final 12 for the Pukpuks Sevens team.

The two days tournament will also fully combine the men's and women's Sevens Championships for the first time.

THE PNGRU during the last week’s national provincial tournament also selected its female side to make up the PNG Palais squad, but is yet to be announced.

The tournament will run from the 27^th of November up to the 5^th of December.

There are four countries taking part:  Tonga, Fiji, Papua New Guinea  and Vanuatu

The Robin Tarere coached side will play their first game this Friday against Tonga at ANZ Stadium at 3pm (12pm PNG time).

The tournament will be played in a round robin competition over three rounds. The team with the highest number of competition points will be declared the winner of the 2015 Oceania Rugby Junior Trophy.

The team, led by skipper Tisa Kautu, also featured debutants Robin Loma, Paul Nelson and Desmond Korpok who made their first international appearance at the tournament.

The PNG outfit beat American Samoa and Solomon Islands and was in the semi-finals for the Cup and a place in the Rio 2016 Olympics but lost to Australia, finishing 4th on the ladder after Australia, Tonga and Samoa respectively.

Pukpuks finish fourth at Oceania Sevens

http://www.looppng.com/content/pukpuks-finish-fourth-oceania-sevens

The PNG Pukpuks finished fourth out of 8 countries at the 2015 Championship in Auckland, New Zealand.

Palais finish fourth at Oceania 7s Champs

http://www.looppng.com/content/palais-finish-fourth-oceania-7s-champs

On the final day of the Championship, the Pukpuks won the quarter final this morning against Cook Islands 19-7.

They advanced to meet Australia who beat them 36-0 in the semi-final.

The Pukpuks then faced off in the afternoon in the third and fourth play-off going down to Samoa 54-0.

Australia beat Tonga 50-0 to automatically qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games sevens tournament in Rio de Janeiro.

Solomon Islands have yet to register a win in this tournament having lost to American Samoa and Tahiti.

The Pukpuks are undefeated and on top of the table.

But this doesn’t faze captain, Fredson Soakai who guarantees they will cause an upset this weekend.

Boasting one of the biggest forward packs in the tournament, Soakai says this is where the game will be won.

 “We know what the Pukpuks are capable of. We’ve watched them play and we’ve picked out their weaknesses.

“It won’t be an easy game for PNG. I guarantee you that."

The Pukpuks now have a clear lead on the points table being the only undefeated team out of four at the 2015 Oceania Rugby Cup.

Carrying on from their form from the first half, the Pukpuks added two more tries with the second going to former Agmark Gurias star, Jacky Marcus.

American Samoa salvaged some pride with a late try to bring some respectability to the scoreline.

The Pukpuks will play their last match this Sunday against the Solomon Islands Hunters.

Pukpuks to use same side for American Samoa game

http://www.looppng.com/content/pukpuks-use-same-side-american-samoa-game

PNG Pukpuks coach Sydney Wesley says he has made few changes to tomorrow's round 2 game against American Samoa at the Sir Hubert Murray stadium.

Cultural Commission against destroying cultural items