Daru Rugby League to Host 9s Tourney

Daru Rugby League to Host 9s Tourney

Daru Rugby League is set to host its inaugural Sisa Kimia 9s tournament next month to keep youths active in sports ahead of the festive period.

Officially confirming their affiliation to the PNG Rugby Football League body, DRL President Cameron Gigiba said this tournament was to raise awareness under the theme: “Drop illicit acts and pick up the ball” while introducing the competition to youths on Daru Island.

“We will be hosting a rugby league 9s tournament with various PNGRFL compliance requirements met to host this inaugural event,” Gigiba said.

“We took a different approach for this tournament and officially named it after one of many Kumul greats Sisa Kimia, who is the only PNG Kumul representative from Daru Island.”

Gigiba said the 9s tournament was scheduled from Dec 16 – 18 and will be used to also emphasize rugby league development on the island, bringing more inclusion ahead of the official 13s season next year.

“There are many forms of social issues back in Daru and we endeavor to use rugby league as a tool to advocate for change as stated through our motto ‘Drop illicit acts and pick up the ball,” he said.

“Daru Rugby League also has other development initiatives of aligning with school rugby league, and this is a start of many more upcoming developments, which we are working on as we progress.”

Meanwhile, former PNG Kumuls great Sisa Kimia, while officially accepting the tournament to be named under him, said it had been too long since rugby league was played on Daru Island in Western Province.

“On behalf of my family, I wish to take this time to offer my sincere gratitude to Daru Rugby executives and President (Gigiba) for naming this tournament after me,” Kimia said.

He said this has also encouraged him to work closely with DRL as they prepare to host and also raise awareness, exposing more talents since his days of playing rugby league on the island.