Cats pounce on shot at rugby

By Zoe Hancock, Gold Coast Mail

A Gold Coast rugby union tournament will this month include a team from Papua New Guinea.

Manager Nathan Turner said a squad of 20 players from the Tabubil Cats Rugby Union Club would make the trip from the remote western province of PNG.



The Tabubil Cats Rugby Union Club will travel from Papua New Guinea to the Gold Coast late this month to take part in a 10-a-side tournament also involving teams from throughout NSW, Queensland, Fiji and New Zealand.

“The team is a side made up of players that are part of the Western Province competition,” Mr Turner said.

“It is completely organised and staffed by a small group of volunteers.

“Fundraising takes place all year round, with much of the money needed coming from raffles, dinner dances along with some sponsorship from the business in the area working on the Ok Tedi Copper mine.

“The team has been working overtime since October last year raising money and getting support from local business and supporters in both PNG and Australia in order to get a squad of 20 down over the weekend.”

Mr Turner said many players would have new gear and boots for the first time thanks to the sponsorships.

The team is hoping to capitalise on the crowd support that was shown to the recent PNG women’s side in the Byron Bay sevens comp and the PNG rep side at last years Gold Coast sevens comp held in Surfers Paradise.

“A good turn-out of expat Papua New Guineans and ex-PNG residents came out to support the teams,” Mr Turner said.

The Alleygators’ 10-a-side rugby union tournament will be played at the Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators’ home ground during the weekend of February 20 and 21.

Teams are coming from Brisbane, Sydney, country New South Wales, Fiji, New Zealand and now PNG.

“It’s an exciting brand of rugby with all the speed and skills of seven-a-side along with the added bonus of a couple of the bigger lads up front expanding the bang and crash effect seen in the more traditional 15-a-side game,” Mr Turner said.

The team will be billeted to Palm Beach Currumbin Alleygators members and friends, in what for many will be their first trip out of PNG.

Source: Gold Coast Mail, 16 February 2010
Link: http://www.mydailynews.com.au//news/cats-pounce-on-shot-at-rugby/464229/