Robert@PNG

Yep… Full contact, no holds barred, woman against woman !!

And Eli’s into it!!

(Eli takes her Rugby Union very seriously!)

Rugby League is huge in PNG - I mean huge! (bigger than Ben Hur style huge). Rugby Union on the other hand is not as prominent as League and has far less teams in the local comps - nonetheless, the fervour and dedication given to the game by it’s followers is on par with it’s sister code. Especially when it comes to the women!!

Eli has joined a local women’s team and has been regularly attending four training sessions a week at the nearby National Institute of Sport (NSI).

(Eli: far left - middle row)

In about a month the team will head down to UNITECH in Lae for a tournament and then later in the year (pending the fund raising) the girls are aiming to make it to Port Moresby for the national titles.

Many an afternoon or weekend you will find me down at NSI watching the gals throwing a ball, going through the moves or playing a match and I can definitely vouch how their game has improved in leaps and bounds (not that I know a great deal about the game!).

(The girls leaving the field after a hard match last weekend)

As far as I’m aware the team goes by the name of “Eastern Highlands Women’s Rugby Union Club”. Just click here to check out all the photos that I have snapped to date of the girls in action.

Go the gals!!!

NB: To watch Highlanders play play rugby is an absolute joy! They (men and women) are born to the game and are naturals. An Australian friend recently left PNG after living and working in Goroka for six months and never got to watch one Goroka Lahanis match and I felt sorry for the dude. If you live and work in PNG and have not yet had a chance to get along to a match, I strongly suggest that you do!