The Australian High Commission presented sporting equipment to the Samoa Women’s Police Sevens Rugby Union team at the Samoa Rugby Union High Performance Unit, Tuanaimato yesterday. 

The team will be competing in the inaugural 2018 Pacific Military and Police (P.A.C.M.I.L.) Rugby Union Tournament in Canberra from October 9-14. 

The donation includes track suits sets, water bottle, sports bag and some shirts. 

In presenting the equipment, Australian High Commissioner Sara Moriarty said the primary objective of the tournament is to foster the spirit of goodwill, healthy competition and greater understanding between the participating Pacific nations.

The teams that will be competing apart from Samoa are Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. 

“Rugby is widely acknowledged as the language of the Pacific and provides an opportunity for all nations represented in the tournament to further their national objectives by enhancing relationships with other countries in our region,” Ms. Moriarty said. 

“This rugby tournament will also allow friendships to be formed between players from different countries and a long term impacts of that can only be positive.” 

Ms. Moriarty said their support demonstrates their close and strong support to the Samoan Police Service.

“It also demonstrates our support for the strengthening of the role of women, their leadership positions as well as role models for healthy living.”

Samoa Rugby Union (High Performance Unit General Manager), Zane Hilton said this is an opportunity for the 14 women to represent their country with honour.

When the team arrives in Australia, they will be presented also with some competition training jerseys, shorts, boots and socks from the Australian Defense Force (A.D.F.). Manu Samoa will provide the team with official training jerseys and socks.