A team of local talent will head up the Vanuatu Rugby League showdown against the Solomon Islands.

The Independence Knock Out trophy was held at Amical fields last Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with many players turning out for the three clubs in Aelan Warriors, Pango Greenbirds and new club Roosters, with the games  doubling as a trial for the international test match to be held in October in Australia.

Games were played as 9 a side, with big hits and spectacular tries width the Aelan Warriors winning the final round.

The finals were held on Saturday evening between Pango and the Aelan Warriors. It was an exciting clash, with Pango first to score, before a period of tense defence from both teams restricted the scoring to just the one try in the first half, which meant the score was 6-0 in favour of Pango.

In the second half, the Warriors fought back and scored with 2 minutes remaining on the clock, but the conversion was unsuccessful leaving the scores at Pango 6 – Warriors 4. From the restart Pango looked to be in control with the clock counting down, but with a turnover on the 6^th tackle giving possession back to the Warriors with 30 seconds to go in the game, anything was possible.

Then, from deep inside their own 20m line, the Warriors passed the ball out wide to their lanky winger Graham Malon who streaked 80 meters to score the winning try. The Warriors were extremely pleased with the win, especially given the talent and tenacity of the Pango team.

The Vanuatu  Rugby League has announced that 17 players have been selected to begin training with VRL Strength and Conditioning coach Brett Wright in preparations for further trials over the coming weeks, with the likelihood that 5-7 of the local players will join up with the national team for the game against the Solomon Islands in Mackay.

The local players will join the likes of James Wood (Tweed Seagulls), Alehana Mara (NZ Warriors/Auckland Vulcans), Alex Marango (Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles) and other Ni-Vanuatu players currently playing in elite competitions in Australia and New Zealand.

The 2013 squad is as follows:

1. Jason Pakoasongi (Warriors)

2. Tonny Lui (Roosters)

3. James Wilfred (Roosters)

4. Kalpat Steedman (Warriors)

5. Ben Lui (Roosters)

6. Koko Kalsal (Pango)

7. Alex Philip (Roosters)

8. Lester (Pango)

9. Sweenie Sablan (Pango)

10. Roger Tari (Warriors)

11.  Graham Malon (Warriors)

12. Claude Raymond (Warriors)

13. Julian Wells (Roosters)

14. Daniel Malcolm (Pango)

15. Nelson Law (Roosters)

16. Jean Pierrez (Santo Boars)

17. Ian Vuti (Santo Boars)

Pacific rivalry will be at its very best with the historic showdown between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands in a rugby league test match in Mackay this October. The game commemorates the Australian South Sea Islander 150 Year anniversary of people or ‘blackbirds’ from Vanuatu and Solomon Islands being removed from the Islands and resettled throughout Queensland.

Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) President Tom Carlo said the game between Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, which will also be the first time the two sides have met in international completion, will further highlight the strong ties of the Island nations.

“This is a great opportunity for the Vanuatu national team to play against the Solomon Islands in Australia. The VRL visited Mackay earlier this year with the Vanuatu-South Sea Invitational tour.

“We were very impressed with the wonderful facilities that Mackay has at Virgin Australia Stadium and also the huge public support we received there.”

“It will be a game of firsts for all involved. Vanuatu will be searching for their first ever international win against the Solomon Islands team who will be playing their very first international fixture.”

“There is a lot at stake and we will have to be at our best physically and mentally”.

The game in Mackay will also feature another first with the first ever Australian South Sea Islander side playing a local Indigenous team.

Vanuatu has been boosted by the confirmation that several high profile players will be available for selection if their sides fail to make the NRL grand final (on the same weekend). The Vanuatu side will again comprise players from the local competitions in Port Vila and Santo, along with professional and semi-professional Ni-Vans that are now living in Australia and New Zealand.

Mackay is regarded as the biggest population of Australian South Sea Islanders and it is hoped that the game will attract more than 3,000 people, travelling from other centres such as Rockhampton, Proserpine, Bowen, Ayr, Townsville, Cairns, Gladstone and Bundaberg.

Corporate packages for the games and general admission tickets will be on sale in mid-August for both games.

For sponsorship enquiries please contact Dane Campbell through vanuaturugbyleague@gmail.com

Vanuatu vs Solomon Islands

Saturday 5^th October, 2013

Virgin Australia Stadium, Mackay