by Lorraine Genia – EM TV, Port Moresby
An independent body from the PNG Rugby Football Union, the Queensland PNG Rugby Union were successful in creating this avenue for overseas-based Papua New Guineans to be recognised abroad.
Both the Queensland PNG Rugby Union men’s and women’s teams were off to a good start in week one of the Kings and Queens of Pacific cup in Brisbane at the weekend.
PNG Palais playmaker and Captain Amelia Kuk was accompanied by some of PNG’s prominent athlete’s abroad – former Palais rep, Marlugu Dixon and Brisbane women’s rugby gun, Melanie Kawa.
The girls had a better performance, winning two out of three games, while the men’s team captained by Nigel Genia alongside a number of potential Pukpuks, Jordan Tkatchenko, Richard Aitsi and Jason Kopyoto lost all two of their games in week one of competition.
As the Pacific has produced some of the greatest rugby union legends, the Kings and Queens of the Pacific rugby tournament is dedicated to community harmony and providing a forum for the best local Pacific Island Indigenous rugby players and administrators in Queensland to showcase their talents.
Results: QLDPNGRU Mens 12 – 7 NZ Maori, 5 – 22 Cook Islands.
Results: QLDPNGRU Womens 19 – 7 Fiji, 0 – 10 Niue, 15 – 0 Cook Islands.
