The inaugural Rhinos Rugby Union 10’s tournament saw a total of 16 teams vying for the Sydney Wesley Cup, named after former Defence rugby legend and Pukpuks Coach Sydney Wesley, at the Bava Park in Port Moresby.
According to Rhino’s Rugby 10’s Tournament Manager Jordan Seladi, the 10-aside concept is an initiative of the Rhinos Rugby Club bringing together emerging, current, and past players to come out and enjoy the camaraderie and build friendships in rugby, have fun and stay fit during the offseason.
“When we started the Rhino’s rugby union team, we started it on the notion of keeping the forward’s fit. Typically, throughout the years we’ve seen, most of the tournaments are oriented towards the 7’s fixture, the young and fast players.”
“But with coach Sydney Wesley’s concept, we thought to create a tournament that’s oriented towards the forwards.”
Despite the short notice, the tournament attracted a good number of teams and players for this first-ever 10s competition.
“Based on the interest that we generated during the past two days; we are anticipating a better and bigger tournament next year.”
While taking part in the 7s tournament they always value their strength in the forwards but over the years and with good like-minded people around the club has developed and transformed itself to where it is today.
“This is the first tournament that they’ve staged, it’s like a trial and error but we have hope and belief that in the near two to three years it should grow.”
He added that should a bigger number of teams participate in the Rhinos tournament, the prize money will increase.
The inaugural 10s tournament has 16 Port Moresby-based teams only competing in four pools with the top two in each pool proceeding to the top 8 cup playoff while the bottom two with playoff for the bowl.
Since it’s only a first-tens tournament, Seladi clarified that the winning teams and runners-up have little financial motivation because of their supporting sponsors, Pacific Islands International and S-85Ever Grand Ltd.