Coach calls for greater support after Solomon Games triumph
BY RICHARD MENANOPO
HONIARA claimed the men’s Rugby Sevens gold medal at the 2026 Solomon Games after defeating Renbel 22-12 in the grand final, while Malaita edged Guadalcanal 12-10 to win the women’s title.
The finals capped two days of competitive rugby, highlighting the rising standard of the sport across the country.
Malaita secured the men’s bronze medal with a 10-0 victory over Guadalcanal in the losers’ final, while Renbel claimed third place in the women’s division after defeating their opponents 48-14.
Honiara coach Leslie Puia credited his players’ discipline and commitment for the title-winning performance.
“I’m really proud of the boys.
“What we’ve been training and preparing for this tournament has paid off. The boys committed themselves to our programme, and that’s why we’ve won because of our unity and commitment over the past two weeks,” Puia said.
Despite lifting the title, Puia said the team prepared with little outside assistance.
“I think the team needs more support.
“During the two weeks of preparation, we didn’t receive any support from the authorities responsible for Team Honiara. Everything we did came through our own efforts.
“Next time, we’d like the authorities to take better care of the athletes representing Honiara,” he said.
Puiya also said the tournament showed that rugby in Solomon Islands is improving.
“I think the competition this year was much tougher.
“The standard of rugby has improved, and by the next Solomon Games I believe the level of competition will be even higher,” he said.
Team captain Junior Baiabe described the gold medal as the reward for the team’s hard work despite the challenges they faced during preparations.
“It’s a proud moment for us to win this medal.
“We’ve gone through many challenges during our preparation and training, but we’ve achieved our goal. I’m very happy and proud of the team,” Baiabe said.
Baiabe said winning the gold medal was a dream fulfilled.
“Playing for a gold medal is every player’s dream. I’m very happy to achieve it, and I’d like to thank all the boys for their commitment and all the provincial teams for making it a great tournament,” he said.
He also acknowledged the team’s limited support during training.
“We faced challenges because we didn’t have enough support and financial assistance, but we managed with what we had,” Baiabe said.
The captain encourages young players to remain committed to the sport.
“Just keep working hard and always prepare yourself for whatever challenges come your way,” he said.
The Rugby Sevens competition attracted provincial teams from across the country, with both the men’s and women’s divisions producing closely contested matches from the preliminary rounds through to the medal playoffs, underscoring the continued growth of rugby in Solomon Islands.
Photo credit: Richard Menanopo
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