By Sharlyne Eri – EMTV News, Lae
Students from schools within Lae District are participating in a holiday sports program, under Scrum Incorporated. The Junior Rugby 7s School Program, is aimed at preparing selected students for the annual districts’ carnival.
This year’s carnival is set for June. The program commenced on Monday. Participants have been selected from the Lae District School Rugby 7s Competition. Selections were done for under 16s and 18s divisions for both males and females.
Those selected are attending a training camp in preparation for the upcoming carnival in June. The program manager Robin Tarere said the training is concentrated around the basics of catching, passing, attacking and defending.
This school holiday program has been running for the last 20 years under the sponsorship of various business organisations, in partnership with Scrum Incorporated. This year Prima, Lae Biscuit, Dunlop and others have sponsored with uniforms and training equipment.
Mr Tarere, also a former National Rugby 7s coach, says there is a need for basic skills in players. It has since become his goal to teach youngsters the basics in rugby 7s.
He hopes these young participants make it to the National Team one day. Meanwhile, selections for the district carnival will be done, after trials on Monday. The program will extend to schools in other districts in the coming weeks.
