By Raphaella Kaore – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
The Fairfax Tropical 9s rugby league tournament is set to kick off this weekend, with over 50 teams registered in the competition and a total of K150,000 in cash to be given away in prize money.
The tournament’s main objective is to carry out cancer awareness, using rugby league as a driving tool.
The tournament will kick off this Sunday, October 12 and run through to October 16.
President of Fairfax 9s Rugby League, Andrew Oli, said the aim of the tournament is to raise funds and awareness of cancer, and to donate these funds to the children’s and cancers wards at the Port Moresby General Hospital.
50 teams have registered, with 44 men’s and six women’s team.
Most of the rugby league teams are from the surrounding rural communities and settlements from the southern zone.
Defending champions from last year’s Southern Zone Trials, the Southern Blacks, will also participate.
Ben Solien, team manager, said this year’s Fairfax 9s will be tough with new teams on board and some experienced players from the Hunters and Kumuls like Sebastian Pandia, Philamon Kimisave, Blen Abavu and Kato Ottio all taking part.
The tournament will be staged at Sir John Guise Stadium here in Port Moresby.
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