The ADF is taking a hands-on role to support the growth of Rugby Sevens in the Pacific nation of Kiribati.
The Kiribati national team recently travelled to Brisbane to compete in their second international tournament, the Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship, where they finished 14 out of 16 teams.
The trip also allowed the team and its officials to rekindle friendships with members of the ADF Sports Diplomacy and CIMIC branches – with an invitation to train at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera.
Coach Morrison ‘Molly’ Benson said he was delighted to see his team make good use of the gym, pool facilities and Duncan Oval over a two-day intensive training period.
“We don’t have a proper pitch back home so it is really hard for us to measure the field. Here we can work on our spacing and identify which areas on the field we need to defend,” he said.
As well as future on-field success, the coach hopes to build a legacy for the country.
“We set a goal that we want to create history and create opportunities for generations to come in Kiribati, so hopefully this will give us a chance to inspire young kids to come in to join and support us,” Mr Benson said.
Kiribati Rugby Sevens president Karea Baireti also has lofty ambitions for the national team.
“The ultimate aim at the moment is to qualify for the Olympic Games here in Brisbane in 2032,” Mr Baireti said.
“All of these players are level-one coaches, so when they go back, they are qualified to then start coaching and getting the next generation going. We’ve got a really good schools program, and it’s those kids who are going to be in the 2032 Olympics.”
Australian Army’s Lieutenant Colonel Justin Robinson, of Joint Task Force 637, was on the sidelines to watch the Kiribati players go through their paces.
“The reception we received when we went to Kiribati during Exercise Longreach earlier this year was brilliant. The people were so kind and welcoming,” Lieutenant Colonel Robinson said.
“So it was really important that we took this opportunity to reciprocate and build our relationship through sport.”
The training session ended with a powerful demonstration of friendship when players, staff and ADF personnel formed a circle and linked arms before singing an impromptu song of thanks.
