The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) Women’s Rugby Team is competing in the inaugural Pacific Military Women’s Rugby Sevens Tournament (PACMIL Sevens) being held in Canberra, Australia from 10 to 13 October 2018.
The Tournament has been organised and funded by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and they have extended invitations to several other Pacific Island nations including, Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Cook Islands. The tournament involves specialised training sessions, community engagement activities with a PACMIL Sevens finals tournament on 12-13 October 2018.
The RSIPF Women’s Rugby Team called the ‘Royals’, currently competes in the Provincial Inter Islands Seven’s and also the Honiara League. They are the Solomon Islands reigning champions.
The RSIPF is extremely grateful for the support we have received from the ADF to purchase uniforms and equipment and to fund our travel to Australia to participate in the event. We have also received ongoing support from the Solomon Islands Police Development Program (SIPDP).
“We have been dedicated in our training and are committed to representing the RSIPF and the Solomon Islands to the best of our ability,” says Constable Suzie Seuika, the Royal’s Team Captain.
The Chair of the RSIPF Women’s Advisory Network, Inspector Ileen Ukebule says, “The World Rugby values of Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect are values the RSIPF align to and through rugby and our hard work, we will ensure these values are maintained. We believe through sport we can breakdown stereotypes and barriers for women. I am very proud of the hard work these women have done to prepare for this tournament and I wish them all the very best.”