Rugby players from New Zealand on island for free clinics

by Dave Delgado

Guam - The professional rugby players here on island continue to spread the word of anti-violence and their knowledge of the game to our players here at home. They are here as part of the Pacific Prevention of Domestic Violence Program.

Tim Nanai-Williams said, "It's been quite good since we been here, we have been here for about a day and a half so it's been good. We got to meet the first lady which was pretty cool we've never met anyone that high up in the country so it's been awesome. They are welcoming people here just like back in New Zealand so it feels like we are back at home and we can't wait to see more of the local people and mix and mingle with them."

The guys have already worked out with the men's and women's national team along with our middle school players. On Friday they take to the field with our boys and girls high school players at the J.F.K Field from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Mark Raddish said, "We are pretty impressed with the skill level giving that rugby has only been in the country for 6 or 7 years that it's been played. We are impressed with the skill of the women's players we thought that they were up there with the guys when we were playing our games and doing our skills and drills. We can see that they are really enthusiastic both the men and the women, they really wanted to learn and try to improve as rugby players."

The free clinics wrap up on Saturday at the Wettengel Field in Dededo. The first clinic will be held from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm for middle school athletes followed by the men and women from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

Liaki Moli said, "For the next few days we will be visiting a lot of schools. We visited a school already and it's been great, we interacted with the kids and we also spread the message that break the silence and end the violence. Just visiting the school has been humbling. On Friday we will be holding clinics and drills that are rugby based and on Saturday it's pretty much the same."

Retired professional player Paul Steinmetz has joined on with the program of "Breaking the silence and ending the violence." He says that rugby can be a violent sport but what happens on the field needs to stay on the field.

A retired player, Paul Steinmetz, said, "A lot of the guys are big rugby guys, they are big strong guys and on the field they beat each other up a bit. There is a few bumps and bruises and that's why we are here, we can say during the 80 minutes that we play a game we are going to take some lumps out of people but when we finish a game it's time to relax and be friends. It's a message that we get across. There's a time to be serious but there's a time to share that love again.