Valley Hunters Rugby Union Club Scoop Two SP Sports Awards

The Valley Hunters Rugby Union Club had a memorable night to remember, stealing the spotlight and winning two awards (National Performance of the Year & People’s Choice) during the 33rd SP Sports Awards held at the Crowne Hotel in Port Moresby on Saturday night, June 14th, 2025. 

The Valley Hunters were rewarded with two prestigious awards for their exceptional performance on the field and great community service in partnership with the Hilton Hotel to raise awareness on mental health and blood donation, among others. They have been phenomenal on and off the pitch, which earned them the two awards.

Winning two awards is overwhelming for the resurgent club, with coach Frank Genia commenting: “It’s been a fantastic achievement for the club (Valley Hunters) and it’s a reflection of a lot of people who have sacrificed over the years, and this particularly is a reflection of the playing group led by Jedaiah Katal.

“More importantly, I think it’s the culture that we created. It’s a good club to be with right now. We sacrificed a lot for each other, so we are really proud of this achievement. I guess this achievement is a reflection of everyone who has sacrificed a lot over the years.”

Coach Genia attributed the club’s success to the culture they created, stating: “The motivation behind the club’s success is to have fun, training and creating an environment where players can come and express themselves freely. Part and parcel of that is having a good structure in place, good leadership, and good management.”  

Clinching the two SP Sports awards will definitely boost the performance of the reigning premiers (Valley Hunters) who remain unbeaten in the 2025 Capital Rugby Union competition after round 9 and aim to continue their winning streak while setting their sights on defending the title.