Rugby Union

Palais will take on one of the toughest teams Fiji on Saturday, November 5 in Suva at ANZ Stadium.

The winner will advance to the final WRWC2017 Asia/Oceania Qualifier event in December in Hong Kong.

This Asia/Oceania Qualifier will feature two Asian qualifiers and one Oceania qualifier and the two highest placed teams will qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in Ireland.

Larry said they’ve selected a strong team for this weekend’s match which is their main focus before competing in the Oceania 7s from November 11-12.

Palais will depart Port Moresby on Wednesday to participate at the inaugural Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in November.

The 15s team will play against Fiji on November 5 to qualify for the World Cup Qualifier.

The 7s team will participate at the Oceania Sevens Championship from November 11-12 against Fiji, Australia, Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.

The players were given a mental preparation self-talk and motivational talk by PNG netball team Pepes’ captain Lua Rikis who has been an elite athlete for over 16 years.

The Oceania 7s will be held at the ANZ Stadium in Suva, Fiji from November 11-12.

In 2016, the Men’s and Women’s Oceania Rugby Championship have combined into one tournament.

The women’s competition will see seven countries compete for the title namely Fiji, Australia, Samoa, PNG, Cook Islands, Tonga and the Solomon Islands.

A final 12 member squad for the 7s tournament will be selected from the 27 players that will play on November 5 against Fiji to qualify for the World Cup Qualifier.

PNG Palais 15s team will take on Fiji this weekend during the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in Suva at ANZ Stadium on November 5.

The selected 21 players will depart PNG shores on Wednesday where they will meet up with six of the Brisbane based players before traveling to Fiji.

The team will be captained by regular and old time favourite Margaret Nauai.

Palais’ coach John Larry says preparations are going well and the team has been training since March.

They started off with 50 players and later trimmed down to 30 players.

The four finalists are Rabaul Stallions, Lae Harlequins, Hetura Trukai Cyclons and Turagus from the Sarawaget challenge.

These provincial winners will be playing for the Nations Sevens SP Export Cup while potential players  will also be selected for the 2017 PNG Pukpuks squad.

Most of the train-on squad players for the Hong Kong 15’s later this year will also be playing in the tournament to build fitness in the lead up to the games in December.

Women’s division will also be part of the tournament to play for the next years PNG Palais squad.

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The teams will compete in three respective conferences; Southern, Northern and New Guinea Islands.

PNG Rugby Football Union chief executive officer Frank Genia said previously PNGRFU had in place a similar competition under a different format.

The new format is to ensure there is inclusivity focusing on provincial and the regional level.

Southern conference will have Capital Rugby Boromas, Capital Rugby Gaigais, Daru Stingrays and a combined provincial team consisting of Central, Western and Oro which will be called Barbarians.

This sponsorship is focused on building the game at a provincial level through two channels, namely the Export Rugby Championships and the Export Rugby Sevens Series.

SP Brewery marketing manager Roger Harwood said  SP under the brand South Pacific Export Larger is delighted to have an ongoing association with rugby union in PNG.

“Our association to the code started in 2005 and has included the sevens and fifteens format of the game focused on developing the code locally,” he said.

He said this in an interview during the tribute organized by the PNG Rugby Union and the New Zealand High Commissioner.

Although he never faced Lomu on the field, Joseph said he was privileged to have watched the man in action during his prime.

Joseph recalls how the PNG Pukpuks were grouped in the same pool and set to clash with the All Blacks, which included Lomu, during the 1998 Kuala Lumpar games Sevens tournament. 

However, the absence of the Namibian Sevens team to the Games forced a reshuffle and PNG and New Zealand never faced off. 

That’s according to New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG, Tony Fautua, during a tribute to honor Lomu this week. 

The tribute was organized by the New Zealand High Commission and the PNG Rugby Union.