Rugby Union

While welcoming the concept, the two rugby unions said that PNGRU should get its planning in place before running the competition.

“The concept is good, but just requires proper planning, accurate budgeting, and alignment with the stakeholders,” said Capital Rugby Union President Kori Chan.

“In their plan, they intended to roll out this competition in 2024 (expression of interest to clubs starts January) and competition starting in June and end in August. So hardly any notice or proper workshop with Provincial Union Presidents.

Managing only one win in the series to finish second last at the event, Voku sees some positive signs for the Pukpuks in terms of competing at the pinnacle of the rugby sevens.  

Reflecting on the games, Voku said, “The team (actually) did well by leading their opponents in most of the matches at the event but; failed to maintain the lead, which allowed the opponents to come back and defeat them in the second half.”

Voku pointed out on their matches against Uruguay and Hong Kong as an example.

The PNG Rugby Union (PNGRU) made the announcement on January 14, 2023, that Butler has signed a contract with ACT Brumbies in the Australia Super W Rugby. She is expected to join the club shortly.

Butler expressed her gratitude to PacificAus Sports for making this program available. She is excited to be the first recipient of the program from Papua New Guinea.

The team comprising 12 players, the coach and the team manager will overnight in Brisbane before continuing on to the UAE on Saturday.

After their convincing performances at the recent Oceania 7s Championships in Brisbane in November 2023, the PNG Men’s and women’s teams have regrouped and now set their sights on the HSBC World Challenger Series in Dubai,United  Arab Emirates next weekend.

While the PNG women’s team, Palais are scheduled to fly out tomorrow via Singapore, the Pukpuks left early today overnighting in Brisbane before continuing to Dubai.

Fiji scored two second-half tries as they rebounded from a nine-point halftime deficit to tighten their grip on second place in Group C, but their failure to collect a bonus point left Australia with a slight hope of avoiding a first ever group-stage exit.

“If I am being honest we were beaten to the punch in the first half. We knew it was going to be a battle. I am just thankful we have the result,” Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui said.

Mack Hansen’s try and five points from Johnny Sexton helped settle a thrilling clash between international rugby’s top two teams at a sold-out Stade de France.

Replacement fly-half Jack Crowley added a late penalty as Ireland stretched their winning run to 16 matches to take control of Pool B.

Andy Farrell’s men also retained top spot in the global rankings ahead of the defeated Springboks, who now have work to do against Tonga next week to avoid early elimination.

Not since 1954 has Fiji defeated Australia in a Test match and the result leaves the Wallabies with a 1-1 win-loss record in Pool C.

The Wallabies face what looms as a sudden-death clash against Wales in Lyon next Monday AEST as they look to keep their hopes alive of advancing to the quarterfinals.

It is only the fourth time the Wallabies have lost a World Cup pool match and they have never exited a tournament at the preliminary stage.

What a comeback it would have been, Fiji down by 18 points with 14 to go. And popular. How popular.

In the end, Wales’s nous, so used to an old-world status in rugby terms well above that of Fiji, saw them through. They have suffered their own trials of late, finding themselves three places below the Islanders in the world rankings, but their four tries left Fiji with just too much to make up. After England’s riposte to the doubters, this bonus-point win was a further fillip for Britain’s ailing powers.

Key points:

• Fiji had never previously beaten England at the Test level
• England captain Courtney Lawes says Fiji made his side "look silly"
• Fiji will play the Wallabies in the Rugby World Cup pool stage

The result would have been noticed by Eddie Jones and his Wallabies squad, who face Fiji in the men's Rugby World Cup beginning in France next month.

From Friday, August 4th to Saturday, August 5th, the venue roared with cheers as 16 teams competed under the resounding theme of "Promoting Autonomy Agenda through Sports".

The competition received a massive boost from its proud sponsor, the New Ireland Provincial Government, which provided an impressive K50,000 funding support.