HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

This is for the Sydney leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series this weekend.

Tietjens concedes that his team will start as underdogs in the opening match against New Zealand at 1pm (12pm PNG time) to be carried live on local TV station EMTV, which has secured broadcast rights jointly with TVWAN for the Rugby 7s series for the PNG audience.

But the fact that the ICTSI South Pacific Palais will be facing off against tier one nations such as New Zealand is not going to intimidate his players to deviate from what they have been practising during training.

Hamilton is the new stage for this year’s New Zealand round, and is set to welcome more than 50,000 fans through its doors on 3-4 February. Much like the tournament, teams will look at this as a fresh opportunity to get valuable points which will help them climb the series table and improve their Rugby World Cup Sevens seedings ahead of San Francisco in July. 

President of the PNG Rugby Football Union (PNGRFU), Steven Kami said the Pukpuks will firstly take part in the Wellington Sevens from January 28-29 then onto the Sydney Sevens that will run from February 4-5.

Pukpuks assistant coach, Sailosi Druma said Henry Kalua and Arthur Clement are the co-captains for the side.

He said the only new face in the team is Freddy Rova from Central.

The squad:

Having not won since the opening tournament in Dubai, two tries from Kitione Taliga and one from Savenaca Rawaca plus three crucial conversions from Vatemo Ravouvou proved the difference in front of 25,981 on a windy day in Las Vegas with the players dedicating the win to those back home.

"One week after Cyclone Winston struck we went back into camp and all the players said we were going to play here in Vegas," said captain Osea Kolinisau.