Papua New Guinea national rugby sevens team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Papua New Guinea women's national rugby sevens team.

Rugby team

Papua New Guinea

Union| Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)| The Pukpuks[1]
Coach(es)| John Larry[2]
Captain(s)| Bartholomew Levi
Top scorer| Paul Joseph

Team kit

Largest win
Papua New Guinea 62–0 Tahiti 7s
(National Stadium, Honiara; 23 November 2023)
Largest defeat
Papua New Guinea 0-64 England 7s
(Wellington; 3 February 2006)
World Cup Sevens
Appearances| 1 (First in 2018)
Medal record

Pacific Games
| 1999 Santa Rita | Team
| 2007 Apia | Team
| 2011 Nouméa | Team
Oceania Sevens
| 2009 Papeete | Tournament
Oceania Sevens Challenge
| 2022 Gatton | Tournament
Samoa playing Papua New Guinea at the 2014 Commonwealth Games

The Papua New Guinea national rugby sevens team competes in the Pacific Games, Commonwealth Games, Challenger Series and the Oceania Sevens. They finished third in 2009 and fourth in 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2023 in the Oceania Sevens. They missed out on a maiden Olympic spot after being defeated by Samoa 24-0 in the 2023 Oceania 7s Olympic Playoff.[3]

Papua New Guinea has also played the Hong Kong Sevens World Series qualifier. In the 2015 edition, they went to the semifinals, where they lost to Russia. In 2016 they lost all matches in the group phase. In 2017 they reached the semifinals.

PNG qualified for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and 2014 Commonwealth Games.[4] Papua New Guinea made its first appearance at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2018, following its fifth-place finish at the 2017 Oceania Sevens Championship.

## Tournament history

[edit]

### World Cup Sevens

[edit]

Rugby World Cup 7s

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D
1993 | Did not enter
1997 | Did not qualify
2001
2005
2009
2013
2018 | 21st playoff  | 21st  | 4  | 2  | 2  | 0
2022 | Did not qualify
Total | 0 Titles | 1/8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0

### Commonwealth Games

[edit]

Commonwealth Games

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D
1998 | Plate Final  | 10th  | 7  | 4  | 3  | 0
2002 | Did not enter
2006
2010 | Bowl Final  | 9th  | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0
2014 | 11th playoff  | 11th  | 5  | 2  | 3  | 0
2018 | Group stage  | 9th  | 3  | 1  | 2  | 0
2022 | Did not enter
Total | 0 Titles | 4/7 | 21 | 11 | 10 | 0

### Pacific Games

[edit]

Pacific Games

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D
1999 | Final  |  | 5  | 4  | 1  | 0
2003 | Plate Final  | 5th  | 5  | 4  | 1  | 0
2007 | Bronze Final  |  | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0
2011 | Bronze Final  |  | 6  | 5  | 1  | 0
2015 | Bronze Final  | 4th  | 7  | 4  | 3  | 0
2019 | Did not enter
2023 | Bronze Final  | 4th  | 6  | 4  | 2  | 0
Total | 0 Titles | 6/7 | 35 | 25 | 10 | 0

### Pacific Mini Games

[edit]

Pacific Mini Games

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D
1997 | Did not enter
2009 | Bowl Final  | 6th  | 6  | 3  | 3  | 0
2013 | Bronze Final  | 4th  | 8  | 3  | 5  | 0
2017 | Did not enter
Total | 0 Titles | 2/4 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 0

### Oceania Sevens

[edit]

Oceania 7s

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D | Refs
2008  | Plate final  | 5th  | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0  | [5]
2009 | Third playoff  |  | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0  | [6]
2010 | Third playoff  | 4th  | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0  | [7]
2011 | 7th playoff  | 7th  | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1  | [8]
2012 | Plate Final  | 5th  | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0  | [9]
2013 | Plate Final  | 6th  | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0  | [10]
2014 | Plate Final  | 5th  | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1  | [11]
2015 | Third playoff  | 4th  | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | [12]
2016 | Third playoff  | 4th  | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | [13]
2017 | 5th playoff  | 5th  | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
2018 | 7th playoff  | 7th  | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
2019 | 5th playoff  | 6th  | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
2021 | did not attend
2022 | withdrew | [14]
2023 | Olympic Qualifying Final  | 4th  | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
Total | 0 Titles | 12/14 | 72 | 37 | 33 | 2 |

#### Oceania Sevens Challenge

[edit]

Oceania 7s Challenge

Year  | Round  | Position  | P | W | L | D
2022 | Final  |  | 5  | 3  | 2  | 0

## World Rugby Sevens

[edit]

### World Rugby sevens series

[edit]

The Pukpuks Sevens have participated as an invited team to selected tournaments across 10 seasons on the world series circuit since the inaugural season in 1999–2000. Historically, they have participated in 18 tournaments particularly the New Zealand Sevens (2000-2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2018), Australian Sevens (2000, 2002, 2011, 2017 and 2018), Fiji Sevens (2000), Japan Sevens(2000) and the Hong Kong Sevens (2002). To date, Papua New Guinea have played a total 127 matches accumulating 237 tries and 1507 points overall. Their best all-time season finish is 12th placing from the inaugural season in 1999-2000.

World Rugby Sevens Series record

Season  | Rounds  | Position  | Points
1999–00 | 4 / 10  | 12th  | 8
2000–01 | 1 / 9  | —  | 0
2001–02 | 3 / 11  | —  | 0
2003–04 | 1 / 8  | —  | 0
2007–08 | 1 / 8  | —  | 0
2010–11 | 2 / 8  | —  | 0
2011–12 | 1 / 9  | 21st  | 3
2014–15 | 1 / 9  | 21st  | 1
2016–17 | 2 / 10  | 18th  | 2
2017–18 | 2 / 10  | 17th  | 6

#### Player records

[edit]

The following shows leading career Papua New Guinean players based on performance in the World Rugby Sevens Series.[15]

Tries scored  No.  | Player  | Tries

|
|

1  | Paul Joseph | 29
2  | Albert Levi | 12
Kevin Vitolo | 12
4  | Henry Liliket | 9
Aiem Pilokos | 9
Willie Tirang | 9
Points scored  No.  | Player  | Points

|
|

1  | Paul Joseph | 291
2  | Albert Levi | 80
3  | Kevin Vitolo | 70
4  | Henry Liliket | 47
Raymond Yauieb | 47
Matches played  No.  | Player  | Matches

|
|

1  | Paul Joseph | 33
2  | Douglas Guise | 29
3  | Eugene Tokavai | 25
4  | Montgomery Diave | 20
Gairo Kapana | 20
Henry Liliket | 20
Kevin Vitolo | 20

### World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series

[edit]

Papua New Guinea have appeared in every edition of the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series since the inaugural season in 2020. This was through qualification for being one of two highest ranked non-core World Rugby Sevens Series teams from the Oceania Sevens Championship.

World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series record

Season  | Rounds  | Position  | Points
2020 | 2 / 2  | 11th  | 16
2022 | 1 / 1  | 11th  | —
2023 | 2 / 2  | 9th  | 9
2024 | 3 / 3  | 11th  | 6

## Current squad

[edit]

Squad to 2024 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series - Men's tour[16]

* Lawrence LAMOND (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Jaybes PANGAS (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Bernard TOALBERT (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Bartholomew LEVI (c) (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Nason BENJAMIN (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Paul Peter TONO
* Emmanuel ZORIRY (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Rex PEREGUA (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Ben LASIEL (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Elipas TATAENG (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Himson TUKAR (Debut- Germany 7s)
* Kolin TOKAU (Debut- Germany 7s)

### Previous squads

[edit]

Squad to the 2023 Pacific Games:

Players

Derrick Voku
Emmanuel Alfred
Benjamin Boas
Benson Hayai
Benjamin Kennedy
Mhustapha Kura
Kunak Late
Kadum Mais
Richard Mautu
Shaun Ongapa
Edward Ramit
Jacky Winas

Squad to the 2023 Oceania 7s:

Players

Derrick Voku
Emmanuel Alfred
Benjamin Boas
Benson Hayai
Benjamin Kennedy
Mhustapha Kura
Kunak Late
Kadum Mais
Richard Mautu
Shaun Ongapa
Edward Ramit
Jacky Winas
Squad to 2023 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series - Men's tour[17]

* Maluai PATALA
* Dickson Morrison
* Shaun ONGAPA
* Benjamin BOAS
* Paul Peter TONO
* Eliud HOSEA (c)
* Derrick VOKU
* Mustapha KURA Goena
* Kunak LATE
* Kadum MAIS
* Kennedy BENJAMIN
* Benjamin WAHUNE

Squad to the 2022 Oceania 7s:

Players

Derrick Voku
Emmanuel Alfred
Benjamin Boas
Benson Hayai
Benjamin Kennedy
Mhustapha Kura
Kunak Late
Kadum Mais
Richard Mautu
Shaun Ongapa
Edward Ramit
Jacky Winas
Squad to 2022 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series - Men's tour[18]

* Maluai PATALA
* Dickson Morrison
* Shaun ONGAPA
* Benjamin BOAS
* Paul Peter TONO
* Eliud HOSEA (c)
* Derrick VOKU
* Mustapha KURA Goena
* Kunak LATE
* Kadum MAIS
* Kennedy BENJAMIN
* Benjamin WAHUNE

## See also

[edit]

* Rugby union in Papua New Guinea
* Papua New Guinea women's national rugby sevens team
* Papua New Guinea national rugby union team
* Papua New Guinea women's national rugby union team

## References

[edit]

* McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)

1. ^ "Sport: Late coaching change disrupts PNG sevens team". Radio New Zealand International. 3 February 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
2. ^ "11 Newcomers in". 16 May 2024.
3. ^ "Samoa and Fijiana 7s qualify for 2024 Olympic Games". Radio New Zealand. 13 November 2023.
4. ^ "Aussies to face England in sevens". Australia: ABC News. July 2010. Archived from the original on 18 July 2012.
5. ^ "Oceania Sevens women's final". Oceania Rugby. 2008. Archived from the original on 27 February 2015.
6. ^ "New Zealand claim Oceania Women's Sevens Championship". Oceania Rugby. 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
7. ^ "New Zealand claim Oceania Women's Sevens Championship". Oceania Rugby. 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
8. ^ "New Zealand claim Oceania Women's Sevens Championship". Oceania Rugby. 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
9. ^ "New Zealand claim Oceania Women's Sevens Championship". Oceania Rugby. 2012. Archived from the original on 9 December 2013.
10. ^ "Women's Sevens Statistics – Day 2" (PDF). Oceania Rugby. 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 October 2013.
11. ^ "Fiji and New Zealand win the Oceania Sevens". IRB. 2014. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
12. ^ "Australia and Fijiana Win Places at 2016 Olympic Games Sevens". Oceania Rugby. 2015. Archived from the original on 15 November 2015.
13. ^ "Australian women win Oceania rugby sevens". Special Broadcasting Service. 12 November 2016. Archived from the original on 9 March 2017.
14. ^ "PNG withdraws from Oceania 7s, focused on HSBC Challenge". 22 June 2022.
15. ^ worldrugby.org. "Stats Centre | HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
16. ^ "11 Newcomers in". 16 May 2024.
17. ^ "PNG takes part in Challenger Series". 12 August 2022.
18. ^ "PNG takes part in Challenger Series". 12 August 2022.

* v
* t
* e

National rugby sevens teams

World Rugby Sevens Series
core teams|

* Argentina
* Australia
* Canada
* Fiji
* France
* Great Britain
* Ireland
* New Zealand
* Samoa
* South Africa
* Spain
* United States

Teams with
Rugby World Cup Sevens
experience|

* Chile
* Chinese Taipei
* Cook Islands
* England
* Georgia
* Germany
* Hong Kong
* Italy
* Jamaica
* Japan
* Kenya
* Latvia
* Morocco
* Namibia
* Netherlands
* Papua New Guinea
* Philippines
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Scotland
* South Korea
* Tonga
* Tunisia
* Uganda
* Uruguay
* Wales
* Zimbabwe

Other teams|

* Afghanistan
* Algeria
* American Samoa
* Andorra
* Austria
* Bahamas
* Bahrain
* Barbados
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Brazil
* Brunei
* Bulgaria
* Cayman Islands
* China
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Estonia
* Finland
* Guam
* Guyana
* Hungary
* India
* Indonesia
* Iran
* Israel
* Kazakhstan
* Kiribati
* Kosovo
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Madagascar
* Malaysia
* Malta
* Mexico
* Moldova
* Monaco
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* Nauru
* New Caledonia
* Nigeria
* Niue
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* Pakistan
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* Qatar
* San Marino
* Serbia
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* Trinidad & Tobago
* Turkey
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* Ukraine
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* Uzbekistan
* Vanuatu
* Venezuela
* Wallis and Futuna
* West Indies

Defunct|

* Arabian Gulf
* Czechoslovakia
* East Germany
* West Germany
* USSR
* Yugoslavia

* v
* t
* e

Rugby union in Papua New Guinea

Governing body|

* Rugby PNG Inc.

National teams|

| Men|

* Papua New Guinea
* Sevens
* U20

|

Women|

* Papua New Guinea
* Sevens

Other notable teams|

Competitions|

| International|

* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* Challenger Series
* Sevens World Series
* Oceania Championship
* Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship
* Olympic Games
* Commonwealth Games
* Oceania Sevens
* Oceania Women's 7s
* Pacific Games
* Brisvegas Rugby 7s
* Hottest 7s
* SCC Sevens

|

National|

* Capital Rugby Union-CRU
* National Capital District Rugby Union-NCDRU
* 15s National Championships
* Kumul Petroleum Super 7s
* Kumul Petroleum Women's Super 7s
* Deaf Rugby 7s
* SportsTok 7s
* Rookie 7s
* Anitua Lihir 7s
* Bilas Peles 7s
* Rugby 7s at the PNG Games

* v
* t
* e

National sports teams of Papua New Guinea

* Badminton
* Australian rules football
* M
* M U-18
* M U-16
* M U-14
* W
* W U-18
* W U-16
* Basketball
* M
* M U-17
* M U-15
* W
* W U-17
* W U-15
* W 3x3
* Cricket
* M
* M U-19
* W
* W U-19
* Field hockey
* M
* W
* Futsal
* Netball
* Rugby league
* M
* W
* Rugby union
* M
* M U-20
* M7
* W
* W7
* Soccer
* M
* M U-23
* M U-20
* M U-17
* W
* W U-20
* W U-17
* Softball
* Volleyball

* Olympics
* Paralympics
* Commonwealth Games

* v
* t
* e

Oceania Sevens

Men|

* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

Women|

* 2007
* 2008
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

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