Bava Queens Rugby Union Community

The Bava Queens are more determined and excited as they prepare to compete for the third time in the annual Sports Tok Rugby Union 7s tournament this April.

Team leader and player Jemimah Meraudje is confident the Queens still have what it takes to go even further, following their Plate Final victory at the 2023 tournament.

The squad is made up of former representative and pioneer players who have reunited to prove that age is no barrier to success.

One of the team’s biggest international highlights came last year when they claimed a silver medal at the 20th Australian Touch Masters Games in Canberra.

Originally, the Queens had planned to participate in a Rugby Union tournament, but when it was cancelled, they made the bold decision to compete in a different code.

The team stepped up fearlessly, proudly carrying the PNG flag and representing their sisters back home, securing silver in the 30–40 division.

Meraudje said the experience demonstrated that, despite adversity, challenges, and setbacks, the team persevered, overcame obstacles, and succeeded.

With experience gained from both local and international competitions, the Bava Queens will be one of the teams to watch at this year’s Sports Tok 7s tournament.

The team will assemble next month, with several members joining in Port Moresby to begin preparations.

They aim to inspire younger players by showing that age is not a limitation in sport—mindset and mental strength are what push athletes to achieve more.

The team members who represented PNG at the Australian Touch Masters Games last year were Jane Buku, Freda Waula, Michelle John, Amenda Ipat, Jennifer Laka Ponahai, Doris Joseph, and Jemimah Meraudje.

Matthew 11:28 "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

O Fada Sydney Wesley, you have left an indelible mark on our lives and your passing leaves us with a profound sense of loss!
May you now bask in the eternal peace of God, where the lush green pastures of Heaven await you. Together with the revered rugby champions who have gone before us, may you delight in the joy of playing the rugby union game, the most glorious game in Heaven!

From all of us, the pioneer women of the rugby code, we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to your loved ones. May Psalm 34:18 be their comfort: "The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

A special tribute from all the old girls of the Defence Women's Rugby Union Club, the current and all ladies in the Defence Rugby circle, whose lives you have touched and inspired - we will miss you and bid you farewell with cherished memories forever etched in our hearts. Gone but never forgotten, your legacy will live on, Fada Sydney! 💔🙏

Hi Everyone this weekend (Saturday 06th Sept) we will be hosting our Beer dart fundraiser:
Venue: Bisini bowling Club
Time: 3pm - 10pm
All proceeds from this event will go towards assisting our Team attend the Australian Masters Games in Canberra next month taking part in the Womens Rugby Union 7s Comp.

Please share this post/flyer and come along on the day to support our Pioneer Women in Rugby Union 🙏♥️

Well done Debbie 💪♥️🙏

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁: 𝗗𝗲𝗯𝗯𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝗮𝗸𝗶 𝗞𝗮𝗼𝗿𝗲

Debbie Baki Kaore is a powerhouse in Papua New Guinea sport- a champion athlete, pioneering coach, and fearless advocate for women and girls.

An Australian Strength and Conditioning Level 1 Coach with the PNG Sports Foundation at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, Debbie has spent more than 11 years shaping elite and grassroots athletes. From basketball to rugby league to national youth academies, her impact as a trainer, mentor, and leader has redefined strength and conditioning in PNG sport.

Before coaching, Debbie carved out an extraordinary career as a dual-sport athlete. In boxing, she won silver at the 2009 Arafura Games and struck gold at the 2015 Pacific Games. On the rugby field, she became a force for the PNG Palais, captaining and leading the team across multiple international tournaments from the 2009 Hong Kong 7s to the 2018 Rugby World Cup 7s in San Francisco, where she served as vice-captain.

Debbie’s leadership doesn’t stop at medals. She is the co-founder of Kamapim Boxing Meri, launched in 2016 to empower women through sport and advocate against gender-based violence. She has been at the frontlines of women’s sport development in PNG including the PNG Orchids program and the inaugural Santos Cup women’s competition proving that pathways for women in sport must be built, not just promised.

Today, Debbie continues to break ceilings as a coach, trainer, and advocate, mentoring the next generation of athletes and fighting for equality in every arena. Whether in the boxing ring, on the rugby field, or in the high-performance gym, she embodies resilience, leadership, and transformation.

We are honoured to welcome Debbie as a panelist at the Women’s Economic Empowerment through Sports Workshop.

Our Rugby team will be selling K100 dish kaikai on repentance day next week Tuesday 26th August. Please reach out if you want to purchase a dish and help support our fundraising drive👍

Let us know if you are interested to buy, this items are on sale by Bava Queens.

Congratulations to one of our very own Rutha-Meu Omenefa ❤️🙏👍🎊🎉

A massive congratulations to our very own Rutha Omenefa on getting appointed the head coach for the Goroka Lahanis Santos Cup - PNG National Women's Competition side.

Another massive milestone for her after leading our Goroka Academy Open Females team to the National Championships Grand Final in May as a first time head coach.

Today was a very proud moment for us as we witnessed our Skipper Jillianne Yallon run on with the Australian Defence Force women playing against our Santos PNG Orchids.
Jill is a PNGDF soldier and a former PNG 15s Rugby Union Cassowaries & former PNGRU 7s Palais representative as well 💪❤️

A passionate player in both Womens Rugby League and Union in PNG 🇵🇬

Thank you for being a true inspiration to us Jìll Lynn Otto, we salute you 🫡

Proud to see some of our Bava Queens who attended this workshop and will be activiley supporting the Santos Cup - Women's Rugby League Comp 2025 💪❤️
Joyce Sheila Jomis, Debbie Kaore, Rutha-Meu Omenefa and Cathy Neap ❤️

As part of our vision in promoting health, Well-being and involvement in Community sanctioned events/programs our Team participated today in the walk to commemorate "World Environment Day" initiated by " Gorvernor Powes Parkop👍

Theme : Beat Plastic Pollution 💯🙏