Sports continue to be the unifying factor amongst people in the country and the code of rugby has brought peace to the people in both rural and urban centres. This was proven when two teams in Gumini in Simbu province received sets of jersey from former PNG Hunters player, trainer and the current Brisbane Tigers assistant coach Tommy Butterfield.
The two sets of jersey and other sporting equipment including 19 rugby balls were taken to Guminin with the help of Port Moresby rugby football league tournament coordinator John Ambane and Steven Sugl who delivered the items to Kirina Tigers and EnGo Brothers.
The two clubs are from Kirino Clan of Gai Tribe in the East Elimbari, Elimbari LLG in Chuave District of Simbu Province.
The teams received the jersey’s last year on December 23rd, 2025 to compete in this year’s competitions. The community leaders and members of the two clubs were very appreciative of Butterfield for the generous donation and to Ambane and Sugl for the rugby balls and their efforts to ensure that the jerseys reached the local teams.
Moreover, the locals expressed that sport is something that brings them together yet they do not have a standard playing field. However, a piece of land has been identified for construction of a standard field and soon the code of rugby league will expand in the area.
