The Port Moresby Fisspotts RFC Inc: “Eating, drinking, and playing rugby for charity during the pandemic”

 The Port Moresby Fisspotts RFC Inc is a rugby club established in 2012, made up of ex rugby players and supporters of rugby union, purposely to raise funds to assist worthwhile charitable causes in PNG, in particular, its nominated charity, the Links of hope.  Its membership includes lawyers, accountants, engineers, an Air Niugini pilot, a provincial governor, senior public servants, corporate executives, business operators, and entrepreneurs, including their lone foreign diplomat, Clayton Harrington, from the Australian High Commission.  All aged between 35 and 55, the Fisspotts' main drive is to “eat, drink, and play rugby for charity” while priding themselves as the “Newest rugby club in PNG, with the oldest players.”

During the inaugural inaugural charity rugby 10s tournament.  The Fisspotts registered two teams.  This is team Purple, comprising (standing from left): Elijah Titus, Malcolm Kulu, Jack Mahuru, Kerry Walsh, Sebastian Niggints, David Kulu, and Jack Kariko.  On one knee from left: Lahui Ako, Raymond Yauieb, Ella Ora, Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, and Gabriel Pamel.

After another of their Saturday morning "keep-fit" outings.

Despite the challenges of "the New Normal" in all aspects of lives in the world today, but more so in PNG, the current global pandemic has however, reinforced in the Fisspotts the need and drive to step up and do more.  As President, Jack Kariko said during the Club’s AGM held in May, 2021, “Gentlemen, in these uncertain times, we need to step up and do more because as most businesses shut down due to the pandemic, the Links of Hope will be in dire need of funds to keep the orphanages running.”

 

At today’s (Saturday, 29 May, 2021) fundraiser (their first for 2021), the Fisspotts raised and donated K10,000 (USD 2,775) to the Links of Hope PNG.  The Links of Hope PNG, according to its website (accessed: 29 May, 2021: 23:57hrs), was founded in 2011 with an initial objective to support Papua New Guinean women released from prison in the creation of small business enterprises.  They also assisted widows from local communities, including supporting those impacted by the HIV and AIDS epidemic.  Today, one of its major focuses is the operation of a child sponsorship program supporting children impacted by HIV.

With some of the children we raise funds for at the cheque presentation to officials from the Links of Hope after the 2018 tournament.  Fisspotts executive from left, include, Jack Kariko (President), Andrew Bemau (Secretary), Malcolm Kulu (Executive Committee), Hubert Kikira (Vice-President), and Meli Muga (Executive Committee).  

 

It is to this cause that the 36-diehard members of the Fisspotts RFC continue directing their endless energy and selflessness upon, an energy that includes volunteering time away from their busy schedules to help organize these fundraising events. 

During a weekly BBQ fundraiser in 2019.  This was outside SVS Waigani

Making ready for another BBQ in 2020 in support against Gender-based violence

Yours truly, Eava Geita, and Ernie Gangloff (Executive Committee member), making up the 10-12pm shift for the BBQ fundraiser on Saturday, 29 May, 2021, where K10,000 was donated to the Links of Hope.

Since establishment, the Fisspotts have supported the Hong Kong Pot bellied Pigs RFC with their signature Fat Boys rugby 10s charity tournament held annually in September.  This tournament is held specifically to raise funds for orphanages in the Philippines.  It took the Fisspotts a mere two years, and countless hours of “eating, drinking, and playing rugby” with the Pot Belly Pigs to eventually get a charity rugby structure in place before starting their own signature event in Port Moresby. 

With some of the orphans during its inaugural attendance at the "Fat boys 10" charity tournament in 2015. 

Posing for a team picture at the 2019 tournament
The former PNG National Rugby 7s coach, late Douglas Guise, is standing 5th from left, behind Hon. Peter Tsiamalili Jnr, Governor, of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

In 2015, the Fisspotts deemed themselves ready to unleash their brand of charity work in PNG.  That year, the club commenced its work with a “barefoot bowls” tournament in addition to its obligation to the Pot Bellied pigs RFC.  By 2017, it had inaugurated its own version of the Port Moresby charity rugby 10s tournament.  This tournament saw all the old rugby players, has-beens, and wannabes come out of retirement and the woodworks, to have fun and in November, 2020, celebrated its sixth annual tournament.  (The 2021 charity rugby tournament will depend on PNG’s national pandemic protocols and measures).  In 2019, the club added a “Mixed netball tournament” into the mix, in addition to its ongoing activities. 

President, Jack Kariko, officiating at the presentation ceremony of the 2020 Port Moresby Fisspotts RFC charity Rugby 10s tournament

At the 2018 Barefoot bowls

Part of the crowd at the 2020 charity Rugby 10s tournament

However, amidst this excitement, the onset of the Corona virus, has restricted the smooth flow of its work.  Still, it hasn’t, for once, dampen the spirit of its 36 diehard members, and their families and supporters.  In fact, the call during their 2021 AGM was to do more just so that the Links of Hope was not affected too much by the COVID-19 protocols and lockdowns (when they occurred).

 

President Jack Kariko continues, “Amidst the continuing uncertainty, our charitable impulse continues to run deeper than ever; knowing that others who also support Links of Hope are hurting as well.  Our cause has the power to inspire others to give as well.  Therefore, we must trudge on.  Because realistically, economic uncertainly has hit donations.  Lockdowns has disrupted routines, exposing the essential fragility of the charitable work we continue to do causing many charities to curtail their work, or to shut down.”

 

Meanwhile, despite the pandemic, the Fisspotts continue to do it the PNG way, taking it, one month at a time, in the Land of the Unexpected, to advance their 2021 calendar of events to a successful fruition and completion by "Eating, drinking, and playing rugby for charity"

With (from left) James Wong, Dennis Tauvasa, Skerry Palanga Jnr, Malcolm Kulu, and Andrew Bemau.