RECENTLY appointed PNG rugby union administrator Simon Kerr says he is looking forward to helping the game develop in the country but stressed the need to have structure to the code.
RECENTLY appointed PNG rugby union administrator Simon Kerr says he is looking forward to helping the game develop in the country but stressed the need to have structure to the code.
In an interview last week Kerr, who played for the Queensland Reds in the early 2000s, said he was excited by the prospects of rugby in PNG.
“The IRB (International Rugby Board) sees PNG as one of the potential major rugby union playing nations in this region (Asia Pacific)but there needs to be a lot of work done on organising the union and having structures in place that will ensure success,” Kerr said.
The Australian said competitions around the country in particular Port Moresby and Lae needed to work closely together to maintain their standards while other centres would be brought into the fold so that all unions were working off the same development plan.
He said women’s rugby would also be a priority with PNG Rugby with the women’s team set to play in a regional sevens tournament in Australia beginning in April.
“Women’s rugby will be given priority because they have the potential to actually win titles at regional events and even medals at regional games.”
The 42-year-old said it was crucial to have all stakeholders following the overall development plan set out by PNG Rugby.
According to the PNG RFU 2012 calendar the Pukpuks, who have been promoted to playing matches with the A sides from Fiji, Tonga and Samoa, were likely to play more internationals towards the end of the year.
Kerr stressed that because PNG had proven itself ready to take the next step in its rugby development (having won the FORU Cup on consecutive occasions) this was all the more reason to make sure the organisation of the game around PNG was of the utmost importance.
He added that an improvement in PNG’s current world ranking of 47 was not out of the question but the ground work would make the difference.
