The National Provincial Sevens Championship in Port Moresby is posed as the perfect and final chance for players from around Papua New Guinea to prove themselves worthy of the national sevens jumper.
With impressive form from all provinces, the National Sevens Coach, Douglas Guise, and PNGRFU’s selectors today released their 19-man extended squad.
The Rabaul Stallions, who have also been a strong sevens province, dominated the team list, with Arthur Clement, Hensley Peter, Willie Tirang, as obvious features, while Lae’s standout backs, Jason Pitbang, Max Vali and Mali Pitana were the only selections from Morobe Rugby Union.
AROB’s Jimmy Pahia and Nathan Baramun also made the cut, while Aroma’s Gairo Kapana also featured, alongside Patrick Tatut Jnr from the Manus province.
While the NPC 7s are proving to be an exceptional breeding ground for players, the current selection demonstrates the national body’s prospects of widening their playing group.
The extended playing squad will enter a 10-day training camp in the next week, before a final team of 12 travel to Fiji to participate in the Oceania Sevens Qualifiers, in November.
PNG Sevens Training Squad
- Joseph Mocke – Madang
- Jason Pitbang – Lae
- Manus Guise – NCD
- Wesley Vali – Mendi
- Arthur Clement – Rabaul Stallions
- Hensley Peter – Rabaul Stallions
- Mali Patana – Lae
- Dean Manale – NCD
- Max Vali – Lae
- Navu Nope – Baike
- Nathan Baramun – AROB Black Orchids
- Jimmy Pahia – AROB Black Orchids
- Joe Leslie – Rabaul Stallions
- Ben Kilala – Rabaul Stallions
- Willie Tirang – Rabaul Stallions
- Stallon Tani – Mendi
- Gairo Kapana – Baike
- Daniel Opa – NCD
- Patrick Tatut Jnr – Manus
