Our very own Hanuabada Hawks RLC, which I had the honor and pride of playing in 1993, then later on in 1997/98 is not doing too well to make us all realize this dream. Even the Kumuls production lines at nearby Porebada and Boera villages have also stopped producing their best since Dairi Kovae came back from the Newcastle Knights and Kini Tani retired in the late 1990s. So where then, do we, Motu-Koitabuans stand in this spectrum? Do we blindly follow our hearts desire and continue on to play the game we love, despite knowing very well that the opportunities to play League at the international level is diminishing fast (or gone forever?)? Or do we attempt other alternatives which are staring at us right in our faces? We only have to look at our relatives in Vabukori village to realise how the game of Volleyball can unite!

I for one, personally think that the time has come for a change of focus on League. We Motu-Koitabuans must now seriously consider the opportunities available to us in the game of RUGBY (union) to now make our mark now in this sport! Yes, we did have persons who represented PNG in Rugby in the past, although only four come to mind – Oala Reva (1970s), Morea Kauna, Dai Boe and John Kabua (1990s), and currently, a host of junior Pukpuks. But this players did not use a Motu-Koitabuan team (like the Hanuabada Hawks RLC or Porebada DCA RLC) as a vehicle to make it to the top. No. They joined other city Rugby clubs to fulfill their heart’s desire. Today, there continues to remain a lack of interest (or fear of the unknown) when the topic of Rugby is brought up, despite knowing very well that others now dominate in League.

In order to change this mindset and seek the other alternative (amidst a host of criticisms, etc., from our Motu-Koitabuan peers, even one from a former Pukpuk who bluntly told us that such a program would not be sustained, etc., etc., etc. and the lack of support from our beloved MK Assembly), we decided to put the money where our mouth was. So in October 2009, former Port Moresby Brothers RFUC strongman Jack Kariko and I registered a not-for-profit organization, called the Rugby Central Foundation (which denotes the centre of rugby development in PNG) – to pursue our dream of promoting “the game played in Heaven” in PNG, particularly, among the Motu-Koitabuan villages. We chose Hanuabada village as the starting point simply because it has the numbers. In fact, in 2009, this village boasted nearly 700 players (694 to be exact) between the ages of 14-28. Unfortunately, of these, only 50 make it into the Hanuabada Hawks RLC each year to play in the tough Port Moresby League comp, while the rest are left to fend for themselves playing social League in Philip Boge’s League comp, or if not, loaf around the village doing nothing.

So we got together a core group of individuals to start this program. First, we convened two meetings: one at Elevala and another one at Hanuabada to gauge the interest of the youths and to see whether or not we could sustain such a revolutionary program. Persons who were instrumental in gathering the boys together were former Pukpuk John Kabua, church elders Puka Tau and Erue morea, current Hawks RLC half-back Sere Hens, and Kone Sharks Rugby player, Rarua Alei. Together with current junior Pukpuks Alex Ikupu, Ikupu Tamarua, Boe Vaieke, and Raphael Martin and others, we commence our rugby development program at Hanuabada.

We were also assisted greatly by Sidney Wesley and Frankie Makanuey, both top class coaches of the premier Defence and Wanderers sides. These men spent a couple of weeks to impart a lot of their experience and knowledge to a group of starry-eyed kids, most of whom had never been in a lineout or maul – but all came because of the opportunity to learn something new, or simply, were league outcasts. Former Pukpuk Dai Boe also ran a few training sessions. We also had one unlikely trainer in Kavieng-based Pukpuk Eremas Simba in November 2009. By the grace of God, the son of the current Misi-Tauna at Metoreia, Terence Kedea, a former PNG international himself, was on hand to take over the coaching responsibilities on a full time basis. Into the management fold also came Reverend Nou Douna, current minister with the Laurabada congregation of the Poreporena circuit. Him, we entrusted the spiritual development of the team and gave him the title of “Chaplain”. Chaplain Douna then led the devotion and prayer after every training sessions.

By December 2009, our numbers had increased to 30 (from the original 10) and continued to grow. Membership now included the brothers Nou and Lari Asigau of Gabagaba village, and David Bau of Papa. These were Rugby boys who brought with them their experience. We now had the semblance of a team. To keep to our objective under Rugby Central Foundation, we called the club, the MOTUANS RUGBY UNION CLUB with the motto: “Egu Dirava, Egu Hanua”.

After a couple of 7s and 10 a-side trial matches among ourselves, the Motuans first baptism of fire came in the form of the Kone Sharks Rugby 7s tournament on 18 January, 2010. We fielded a senior and a Under-20s side. While the U20s gained the much needed match experience during the tournament, the senior Motuans did themselves proud on the day by bowing out of the Cup semi-finals play-offs, thereby, earning themselves a place in the 2011 tournament.

In the first week of February, 2010, livewire Pukpuk 5/8 Douglas Guise ran a weeklong rugby clinic at the Hubert Murray Stadium for the Motuans. Then on Saturday, 6 February, 2010, the Motuans played their first-ever 15s a-side trial match at the Bava Park against a development side from the Port Moresby Brothers RFUC, beating the Brethrens 47-38. the Brethrens were then invited back to Hanuabada where they were hosted to a feed and entertainment. The following week, the Motuans took on the might of a fully-fledged Defence RUC (DRUC) side and drew, 15-15. From this match, 5 players were recruited by DRUC to trial for spots in their 2010 side. Of these five, Danny Mea and Lakani John opted out, while Sale Doura, John Sukope and Aloysius Taurina have made an impact with DRUC during the POM RFU Pre-season competition and are set to play a big part in the DRUC’s 2010 campaign. Allan Gabutu and a couple of others have also been accepted to play in the DRUC junior grades this season.

After the DRUC trial, the program immediately went into recess. It was also the aim of the Motuans management to get as many players as possible aligned to existing clubs in POM RFU simply to learn as much as they can in RUGBY and to develop themselves as Rugby players. To date, there are now : 8 Motuans playing with DRUC and 7 with Kone Sharks RUC. It is our hope that when we regroup in October 2010, we should have up to 20 hardened rugby players to form the core of our programs. Under this program, we will also be bidding for a place in the 2011 POM RFU competition. If this bid is successful, then all these Motuan players (and others who hear our call) will form the core of the inaugural MOTU-KOITABU Rugby side to play AS A CLUB in 2011.

When the program resumes in October this year, the Motuans will make a tour abroad to raise funds for its entry into POM RFU in season 2011. We will also host a Motu-Koitabu Rugby 7s tournament in November, 2010, participate in the Kone Sharks Rugby 7s tournament; and play a home-and-away series with Lalaura Rugby (tbc).

With this short brief, I would like to take this opportunity to ask all loyal Motu-Koitabu supports of rugby to put all your support behind the MOTUANS RUC and its rugby development programs in the villages and we hope to see you all shouting your voice off for the Motuans at the Bava Park in season 2011, as we play for God and our homeland!