Central Rugby Union to get together (Post Courier 14/12/16)

Central Rugby Football Union President Ako Maniana

By FIDELIS SUKINA

Central Rugby Football Union President Ako Maniana has said that they need to improve the game in the entire Central province in order to be competitive.

Maniana said the Central province was split into two main hi-ways the Hiritano and the Magi hi-way, he added that both hi-ways possessed great talent and that was their biggest task ahead to grow the game of rugby union in the Central province.

He added that the only flagship tournament hosted by Central Rugby Union was the famous Aroma Coast 7s (AC 7s) and it was only dominated by the people in Aroma and the Magi Hi-way.

“Central has only been running one competition the Aroma Coast sevens; we need money to grow the game in Magi Hi-way and Hiritano Hi-way.

“We make no excuses for Central we hope the new executives of Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union can help move the growth of the competition forward,” Maniana said

He said giving the opportunity to the population in the Hiritano Hi-way can help boost the code of rugby union in that area as well as Central was known for its pool of talent in sports.

“Basically our focus in the last 5 years has been to develop the game, we have the Hiritano and Magi Hi-way to cover it’s been a very hard task.

“We believe we have the talent in that area as well and we want to give the opportunity and say that Central has truly embraced the game and can step up to the challenge to the provincial 15s and 7s tournaments.

“The most successful flagship tournament the Aroma Coast 7s has produced some good talent in administration and players to name a few, we have Billy Rapilla the Genia brothers and Douglas Guise and some others as well who have taken the game of Rugby Union,” Maniana said.

Maniana added that the success of team Central in the PNG games has proved they can produce some good rugby.

“As a province we have played in the PNG games and on three occasions we won bronze in the games and that’s the testament of the coaching staff and the players,” Maniana said.