By Lorraine Genia – EM TV, Port Moresby
The year 2015 will see great changes in the ranking and status of our national sporting teams; one of those being the PNG Pukpuks.
Most successful and consistent 15s coach for the Defence Rugby Union club, and now national coach of the Pukpuks, Sydney Wesley, has the chance to prove his selection and credibility as coach, to the rest of Papua New Guinea this year.
Of his many plans as coach, Sydney’s long term goal is improving the standards of 15s competition nationwide, where players will have the chance to be selected from centres outside of the usual, Lae and Port Moresby.
“Since taking up the post as national coach, I’ve been working hard to strengthen the competitions in place, as well as starting up competitions in other provincial centres which have died out in recent year,” said Wesley.
The current player base is spread across Port Moresby, Lae, Daru, Rabaul and Goroka, from which an extended player squad was selected.
Wesley confirmed the boys have been training during the festive period, as he stated in an interview, “I have been in touch with the boys from other centres, as they’re gearing up for the big camp between the 9th to 11th of February.”
From these trials, a team will be selected to travel to Singapore for an international test match, as a lead-up to the Oceania Championships expected to be held after the Pacific Games.
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