The SP Export Pukpuks Sevens team is set to return looking sharp, with a dozen of PNG’s best rugby players lining up in Canberra’s premier grade competition.
It is part of a training program with the ACT Brumbies, and a partnership the Super Rugby club is hoping to expand, as part of a commercial coaching arrangement which already includes PNG and Japanese.
Piloting the team to all new heights, senior player Billy Torea is certainly impressed and eagerly awaiting travel to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games.
Head coach for Uni North Owls, Joe Hedger, commends the talent brought and shared amongst his playing group. Hedger says “we’ve also embraced what they’ve brought and that’s a lot of flair, speed and instinctive play.”
“We usually play more structured but we haven’t denied them their opportunities to use their strengths and they can turn it on,” Hedger says.
Despite the distinct cultural differences, the boys have settled in well.
This weekend, speedsters and wing duo Hubert Tsehara and Henry Kalua will play for the Uni Norths Owls first XV side.
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