The Buka Rugby Union’s Komuniti Rugby 7s and mini 7s circuit will take a break this weekend.
This is according to Coordinator Kelly Havara, who said the tournament, which kicked off last weekend in Hangan village, will pause to allow teams to recoup and restock.
The second leg of the tournament will resume next weekend, June 28-30, at Hangan village, home of former Pukpuks 7s captain Hubert Tseraha.
Havara emphasized that this break is part of the eight-weekend schedule, aiming to make the tournament more inclusive as it visits selected constituencies in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
He said it has been a good start for the tournaments in paving the way for the much anticipated 2024 Black Orchid 7s.
Havara said the Komuniti 7s goes on for 8 rounds till October later in the year.
He said divisions currently contested are the under 16s who play as school teams under existing clubs in the competition.
“Each participating school is attached to an affiliated club of Buka Rugby Union.”
He said it’s been a good start for the tournaments paving the way for the much anticipated 2024 Black Orchid 7s.
The premier division has 12 teams, women’s 8 teams, and under 20 is 12 teams as well.
Havara reiterated the Komuniti Rugby concept unites AROB for the greater part and builds on the gradual evolvement of the code in the province.
Following the Komuniti 7s initiative is the inaugural ‘All Souls 7s’ tournament in November, which is also a precursor to the famed Black Orchid 7s, and is invitational only.
“All Souls will be two weeks before Black Orchid 7s.”
He said the All Souls tournament is to remember fallen Orchid brothers (Jimmy Pahia Semoso, Ian Tenevi and Monford Kehatsin) and also remember all our family members who have died as a result of the Bougainville crisis.