by Lorraine Genia – EM TV Sport, Port Moresby
The PNG Rugby Football Union has been identified as the biggest union in the Pacific – quite the achievement for a tier three union under the World Rugby banner.
With the participation of over 40,000 Papua New Guineans contributing to this ranking, the introduction of a rugby championship and national sevens series will surely boost the ranking of the union, and will assist with further development of the code, in-country and in-region.
The Sport Ministry has in recent times called on the PNG Rugby Football Union to look to the PNG Rugby Football League in terms of development pathways to improve the status of the code in the country, and have better structures in place.
The introduction of this sevens series and rugby championship will be played in each of the four regions – the concept similar to that of previous years with the super fours format.
This will allow for union’s around the country to select their best players to play, in a semi-professional competition, allowing for the standard to improve – something that hasn’t been evident in recent years.
It will also provide another avenue for a selection base into the national Pukpuks side, as well as another platform to enhance gender equality placing emphasis on women’s rugby.
The official announcement of tournament dates and provincial teams will be made known following the official announcement of a partnership with the SP Export brand this evening.
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