It has been three weeks since Richard Sapias resigned as PNG Rugby Football Union’s President, after a seven year uphill battle.
During his tenure, Sapias oversaw the men’s sevens team return to the Hong Kong Sevens after a 14 year absence, and also witnessed the Pukpuks win the Oceania Cup in 2015.
A further list of his exploits includes the inception of junior rugby programs and also pushing for mass participation throughout the nation.
His resignation, however, came about due to his new role as President of Oceania Rugby.
Sapias’ advance in his career however has left PNG rugby in a vacuum, one that must be filled quickly, with the code growing at an exponential rate at the moment.
There are a number of viable candidates from some of the country’s biggest associations, although forthcoming nominations for the nation’s top job have yet to be made known.
The most influential associations currently are Capital Rugby Union, Morobe RFU, East New Britain Rugby, Goroka Rugby Union and the AROBRFU.
However, while these unions have not openly pushed for a viable candidate at present, it is understood that the Vice President assumes the role of President until the next annual general meeting.
All in all, PNG rugby has to make a decision and quickly, with the upcoming SP Export 15s competition, a semi-professional concept that hopes to grow, the sport will need a head to guide them to future success.
