The USA Rugby Union icon Andrew Durutalo remains commitment to youth and women’s rugby development, declaring his mission to "empower through sport." A former Olympian and Rugby World Cup player for the USA, Durutalo visited Bava Park as part of a U.S. Embassy-backed sports diplomacy program. During his first-ever visit to Papua New Guinea, he spent some time witnessing the Pepsi Capital Rugby Union Premier Match at the Bava Park on Saturday May 24th. His message is clear: rugby should be a unifying force that lifts marginalized voices, particularly youth and women. “I’d love to see both the men’s and women’s Pukpuks on the world stage—especially at the Olympics,” he said, emphasizing that such representation would solidify PNG’s presence in global rugby. Durutalo praised the country’s passion and infrastructure, acknowledging the facilities at Sir John Guise Stadium and the Santos Stadium. However, he noticed a critical flaw of limited field access for women’s matches in rugby union scheduled elsewhere, diluting their visibility. “Having just one field makes it hard to integrate both codes equally,” he said. He advocated for shared platforms where women’s premier matches are played alongside men’s, ensuring inclusivity and public engagement. He also highlighted the broader role of rugby as a vehicle for youth transformation. “There’s so much rugby on a Saturday in PNG,” he observed, smiling. “It’s exciting, but let’s make sure we channel that into long-term pathways.” With sports diplomacy as his vehicle, Durutalo’s visit is planting the seeds of equity, visibility, and global aspiration in PNG's overall rugby communities. While envisioning PNG’s rise on the Olympic stage, he concluded saying, “Hopefully it happens soon.”