Aid funding boost for PNG rugby league

[DIEHARD]

Aid funding boost for PNG rugby league

Australia will provide a funding boost to help develop the game of rugby league in Papua New Guinea.

Australia will provide a funding boost to help develop the game of rugby league in Papua New Guinea.

Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Richard Marles has announced a three year, AusAID-funded program in Papua New Guinea.

"$4 million, which had been earmarked for Rugby League in PNG for a long time now is able to be spent on developing rugby league within schools," he said.

"Over a three year pilot 50,000 children, 500 teachers across 80 schools in 3 provinces in PNG will benefit from participation in rugby league and that's just fantastic."

Rugby league is the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea and is commonly referred to as the national sport.

PNG is also pursuing a bid to enter a team into Australia's National Rugby League competition.

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au

[Titanic]

Every little bit helps.

[Toads]

Every little bit helps.

Agreed, just hope it get spent in the right areas. If it's done right it'll be a real boon for (some) the people of PNG.

[DIEHARD]

Rugby League in schools is fantastic, as I believe it was banned in schools for some time due to its contact nature. Titanic would know more.

[Titanic]

Was banned in schools late 90's until a few years ago, can't recall the dates. There have been many issues including the non-payment of insurance through the registration process. For those not familiar, a bi-product of malaria (rampant in PNG) is an enlarged spleen which can be fatal if ruptured in a heavy tackle. Also the win at all costs mentality tempted teams to field over-aged players plus the usual rorting that occurs in a developing country.