The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Women’s Rugby Team has finished second in its pool at the inaugural Pacific Military Women’s Rugby Sevens Tournament (PACMIL Sevens) currently underway in Canberra, Australia.
The tournament will end tomorrow 13 October 2018.
The RSIPF “Royals” thrashed the Cook Islands 22 -0 in its first match and also beat Samoa in its second game 22 to 15 today (12 October 2018)
Sadly the RSIPF “Royals” went to Australia after being beaten 48 – 0 in its third match. However player of the match was RSIPF’s Rose Nigalo.
“The Aussies were really good at picking up any broken play and scoring. But we finished second in the pool and we are top of the trier two nations. In the championship round tomorrow (13 October 2018) we will play the New Zealand Defence Force in the semi-finals. We will try our best to win and will then make the final against Aussie or Fiji. If we lose the semi we will play the loser of them. Still top four of pacific rugby is great and the girls are so happy,” says Coach Darren Folau.
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. The team has also received ongoing support from the Solomon Islands Police Development Program (SIPDP).