After an exhilarating performance at the KPHL Southern Leg 7s as well as a heart—wrenching performance at the Rookie 7s 2023, Razorbacks players Rex Peregua, Kingsley Gegeyo and Patrick Tubal harvested the fruits of their hard work when they were recently selected to join the PNG 7s train-on squad for 2024. The selection had come as a shock for the boys but is nonetheless a dream come true for all three boys with Peregua and Gegeyo making a mention of always having dreamt of representing the country as national representative players. At just 23-years old, Peregua best known to his team mates as “Rexy” from a mixed parentage of Simbu and Morobe Provinces, stated that the news had overwhelmed him and took him up to a week for the news to sink in. He thanked the Lord as well as his family, Defence and Razorbacks 7s Rugby Union, the clubs that have helped him excel in his rugby career. “I've always wanted to be part of the National Squad ever since I switched code from AFL to Rugby. Growing up watching my big brothers, Liebert Suang, Eddie Carl So-or and some whom I've not mention playing representative footy, has always motivated me and that has been one of my dreams growing up and playing alongside these big name boys.” Peregua grew up in the nation’s capital and completed both his primary and secondary education at Coronation Primary and Badihagwa Secondary Schools respectively. He added that he started his sporting career in the AFL code before later making a switch to the rugby union code in 2019 and looks forward to any challenges that come his way because coming over to rugby union changed everything. “It's all new environment for me so I need to work harder to put myself in that category as a rep player. I’m looking forward to take on new challenges every day and challenge myself because now, it's all a new level so if I want to achieve my dream, I will need to work harder and put more effort in to my training to achieve my dream. It’s not easy but I need to work hard to get to the top and I will be doing just that.” Additionally, for 21-year old Kingsley Gegeyo, known to his teammates as “Kings,” who is currently a second year student at Don Bosco Technological Institute and hails from Oro Province, was deeply honored and privileged to be selected into the train on squad and is excited to work hard for his spot on the final squad. He started playing rugby in 2018 with a love for the game that motivated his dream to one day put on the Pukpuks jersey and never thought that he would make it to this point in time. He now hopes to perform to the international standard of rugby union 7s and be selected into the final squad to accomplish goals he has set for himself as well. Gegeyo said he grow up watching players like Manu Guise and Gairo Kapana playing in the big matches. That was motivated him to pursue his dream of one day wearing the national jersey. “If I do get selected, I want to go and win a HSBC tournament, not just the pool games but the finals too.” When asked about their advice to the younger generation of rugby union players, both boys aspire to be inspirations for the younger generation. “I want to be a role model for younger generation and encouraged them to make that pathway for them,” said Gegeyo. “For the young ones who just started playing, all I have to say is have fun and the same amount of hard work you put into rugby, apply in everyday life and you'll see a better version of yourself.” While Peregua mentioned that his advice to them was to take a step forward, don't look back and work harder to achieve their dreams. “Always put God first in everything you do, he will provide for you.” Meanwhile, the Razorbacks Rugby Union 7s Club has always had a passion to develop and push young players to excel in rugby union to someday make a name for themselves and represent not only themselves but their teams, families and communities, playing the game that they love.