PNG Likely To Host Regional Oceania Rugby Union Tournaments

By Fidelis Sukina – EMTV Sports, Port Moresby

With modern and impressive sporting facilities, Papua New Guinea has gained the attention of regional sporting bodies, with major international and regional tournaments considering PNG as hosts of upcoming events.

Oceania Rugby, the regional body for rugby union sent its representatives to PNG for a fact-finding mission to see the facilities, in a bid to give PNG hosting rights for Oceania regional tournaments.

Discussions between Oceania Rugby and stakeholders in PNG have started with Oceania Rugby competitions manager, Wayne Schuster, part of the discussions.

There are a few tournaments for rugby union in the Oceania region: the Oceania 7s tournament, Oceania 15’s Cup, Womens Oceania Championships and others for the junior categories also have a chance to be hosted in PNG.

But can PNG Host the blue ribbon Oceania sevens tournament which sees tier one nations New Zealand, Australia, Samoa and Tonga combine with the tier two nations like PNG on an equal playing field?

There are two very crucial criteria’s that need to be met in hosting Oceania tournaments; and PNG has ticked the boxes with flying colours.

But Oceania Rugby is keen on having PNG host regional tournaments in the long term.