Black Orchids Aim to Defend NiuPower KMHL Sports Tok Rugby 7s Title

The champions of the 2024 NiuPower KMHL Sports Tok Rugby 7s tournament, Black Orchids, are setting their sights on retaining the prized silverware as the annual event kicks off tomorrow (April 18th) in Port Moresby and ends on Sunday (April 20th). 

The ‘Sun Kamap’ lads won the tournament in 2022. However, they failed to defend their title in 2023, settling for Bowl. In 2024, they came on a mission and reclaimed the coveted trophy. 

Representing the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB) to compete in the three-day tourney this Easter weekend against other serious contenders, the Orchids are primed to win the 8th edition. 

The bulk of the winning team from last year cemented their spots, with the inclusion of two debutants, Milton Nasei and Giobun Hakaria, and former Orchid, Jeremiah Hakaria.  

Coach Tsidom Semoso explained that they had trained for over three months, knowing that other teams would come prepared to take the title from them.

“Our preparation has been good. I made sure to prepare my players well to build their fitness level, condition, and combination because it’s not easy to defend the title,” Semoso said.

“I believe and trust my boys to defend our title. However, it’s a new year and plenty of teams are looking forward to playing us.”

The championship-winning coach mentioned that the camp had been positive and the players were ready for the challenge, highlighting their game plan and the welfare of the players.  

“Our focus is to work more on defense and ruck area, ensuring that we stick to our game plan and playing our style of footy,” he said.

“We have settled well and the players are enjoying themselves. It’s a big tournament so the players must be taken care of to produce good results on the field.

“Our combination has been solid since last year, but we still need to work extra hard if we want to defend our title.”

With the inclusion of a Fijian team and a few previous champions of the NiuPower KMHL Sports Tok Rugby 7s, it will be an insurmountable task for the Bougainvillean men to defend their fortress, but they are up for the challenge.