18 teams from 18 unions in 17 provinces are set to participate for the next four weeks in the Kumul Petroleum Super 7s series beginning tomorrow at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium in Port Moresby.
Patron of PNG Rugby Union and NCD Governor Powes Parkop officially welcomed all the provincial teams this evening at the stadium as he urged them to take the game to a new dimension.
Speaking to the players from the different provincial teams this evening, Parkop said the recent investments were made to lift the game and the onus is now on the players to give their best on the turf.
“This is the new horizon for this sporting code and it starts this weekend,” Mr Parkop said.
“All the other sporting codes have received government and public support over the years while Rugby Union has been a sleeping giant.”
“But with the new management under Paul Siwi and the recent launch of the corporate plan for this game, we want to unleash its.”
The code recently received a funding support of K10 million from the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited for the next three years and Governor Parkop also committed K500, 000 from the National Capital District Commission for the series this weekend.
Governor Parkop further said the series is set to be staged at a very iconic venue where the country for the first time raised its national flag in 1975 and NCDC has marked Sir Hubert Murray Stadium as the new home ground of Rugby Union.
PNG Rugby Union President Paul Siwi thanked all the stakeholders who have played a part in reviving the game and urged the participants to give their best for the games this weekend.
“This is the biggest gathering of a national rugby event since the arrival of this game and I want all your unions to work together and promote this sport,” Mr Siwi said.
“We have the right kind of support we can ever get at this time and it is our time now to play our part.”