PNG Rugby 7s

President of PNG Rugby Union, Paul Siwi in defense claimed that players were selected on merit and for the good of the national team.

Siwi said the PNG Pukpuks has all its top 30 players in the camp. He said the players were selected on merit and players who failed to make the team were because of poor discipline.

“They (players) were in a camp and were ill disciplined so the disciplinary action was to deny them.”

After defeating PNG, Samoa Men’s and Fiji Women’s booked direct entry for the 2024 Paris Olympics Games in France; but for PNG, it was a hard luck as they focus on their Challenger Series.

Both Men’s and Women’s teams enjoyed undefeated runs until their final matches where they were given reality check by the top tier sevens teams.

PNG Rugby Union President, Paul Siwi said: “The PNG Men’s and Women’s 7s teams may have missed out on direct qualification to Paris Olympics with Samoa Men’s and Fiji Women’s taking out the Olympic direct spot.