In the last several years, more emphasis has been put into developing bigger forwards that are lacking in the PNG Pukpuk’s side.
A standard flanker for any Rugby Union team around the world has to be tall and have bulk with agility, the full athlete.
For Papua New Guinea, size and strength is rare, but in Lae, a twenty one year old has aroused the interest of selectors.
The softly spoken Richard Gebob is a rare specimen, standing at 192 centimeters and weighing close to a hundred kilo’s, he can easily stand up against flankers around the world.
“I started playing Rugby Union in 2010, being a flanker has always been about hard work on the pitch,” he says.
In 2010, Richard made a choice to start playing Rugby Union for the Harlequins in Lae’s Rugby Union Competition.
In that same year, he was picked for the Junior Pukpuk’s Under 16 side going to the Sunshine coast.
Its not just Richard, there’s Lae Royals, 195 centimeter, one hundred two kilo forward John Ephraim and 183 centimeter Utility, Ezekiel Dauko.
There is also an inspiring Prop, Bojay Bogan who plays for Lae’s Harequin’s side.
“I am 155 kilograms and my height is 181 centimeters,” says Bogan.
They all were recently in Canberra, taking part in high performance training for forwards with Australian Super Rugby team Brumbies.
The future is exciting, if they are selected for the PNG games, the Morobe Rugby Union side will become a formidable opponent for other teams.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=zMcZfSE0rfc%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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