The 2026 Sepik 9s rugby league tournament has been launched recently in Port Moresby with 12 teams already registered for this year’s edition.
The 2026 edition also welcomes John Simon Commodities as the naming rights sponsor replacing Agmark going into the future.
The tournament executive Isaiah Monoubi welcomes the new sponsor on board as he thanked Agmark for their continues support behind the game of rugby league.
The participating teams will be competing for a share K55, 000 that is on offer. First price K25, 000, second K15, 000, third K10, 000 and fourth runner-up will get K5, 000.
The registration for the competition is still open as the organizer look to unite the people of Sepik and the wider Papua New Guinea in the game of rugby league.
JS commodities owner John Simon said his business is a small one but they are proud to be part of the tournament as a way to help the youths change for better.
The company buys local coffee beans process them and have it sold at their shops in Post Moresby and Wewak. They also export local coffee to overseas markets.
“My business is a very small business. I am struggling as well but giving something back is what I always believe in. I am doing this as a citizen of this country trying to lead the way to show other Papua New Guineans what we can do,” Simon said.
He also thanked the former naming right sponsor Agmark group of companies who continues to support rugby league and sport as a whole in the province as he calls out other business houses to back the programs of change in the both East Sepik province.
Monoubi said the competition is also a way of getting the people of greater Sepik together and the backing from JS Commodities means a lot.
“It is special to have one of our very own companies stepping to come on board to support Sepik 9s. Not only rugby but it (help) minimizes a lot of social issues back in the province and district when youths get involve in sports,” Monoubi said.
“Not forgetting Agmark as well for the support for years in carrying out the Sepik 9s program in the province. Thank you Agmark for what you have done for the people of Sepik and the entire nation as a whole.”
He said Sepik 9s is a project to drive change in people’s lives through sports.
