By Dion Kombeng – EM TV Sports, Port Moresby
World Rugby, formerly known as IRB, over the last 12 months has placed a huge emphasis on women’s rugby around the world. The development of women’s rugby in Papua New Guinea has been on the rise, since early year from the assistance of mass participation programs, Get into Rugby, and Pacific in Union.
One of PNG Rugby Football Union’s main objectives when delivering their development programs is to promote gender equality.
PNGRFU general manager, Frank Genia confirmed that of the 21,000 participants in rugby union last year, 48 per cent were female.
While there is still much more work needed to be done, with developing the code, and sanctioning more provincial tournaments around the country to keep women involved and playing rugby, Genia said, the youth commonwealth games has given them a great opportunity to showcase their young talented women.
PNG’s entry into the Samoa 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games will help strengthen the player pathway that is currently in place, and has boosted the process on establishing a junior rugby elite competition within the country.
PNG is among five other nations (Canada, Scotland, Australia, Cook Islands and Samoa) who have qualified to compete in the sevens circuit at the Games.
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