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  1. #1
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Default PNG rugby league set for games on the world stage

    PNG rugby league set for games on the world stage

    Rugby league in Papua New Guinea has achieved a significant boost with the number of international matches involving the Kumuls set to rise significantly over the next few years.

    The PNG delegation to the recent Rugby League International Federation meeting in Sydney also pushed for a much larger slice of the action at the 2017 World Cup.

    Instead of staging just one or two matches, they want hosting rights for a complete group.

    Brad Tassell, the Chief Executive of the PNG Rugby Football League, told Pacific Beat the RLIF is also very keen for PNG to host a pool.

    "We put a really strong case in regards to it which is still being assessed but we're pretty confident we will get the nod to do that with all the development that's happening particularly the rugby league programs and all the facilities up here," he said.

    "I think there is a real groundswell of support - at the meeting we had delegates from all around the world and they've heard a lot of things about what's happening in Papua New Guinea, the rejuvenation on the game, everyone knew about the PNG Hunters as well from around the world.

    "So there's a real focus on Papua New Guinea at the moment and being a nation of seven million people and having rugby league as a national sport, its vital that PNG are strong on the international scene."

    The PNG delegation also called for the revival of the Pacific Cup as a four-nation, biannual event between PNG, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. PNG wants to host the first tournament in the off-season in October next year .

    "We need to get up regular international games between the Pacific nations," Mr Tassell said.

    "It's after the end of the NRL season, the end of the Queensland Cup season when players will be available and we'll be expecting the release of those players to compete in that tournament."

    PNG also wants the go ahead for a one-off international this year and Mr Tassell said it would be against either Samoa or Italy on October 19.

    Mr Tassell says the RLIF meeting was vital for Pacific nations to impress on the world body that they need to play regular test matches.

    It's proposed that in the year when the Pacific Cup isn't played, Pacific nations would hold a test series - PNG versus Fiji and Samoa versus Tonga.

    "We need to play more test matches, we need to give our players more international exposure and that's the only way that we're going to improve," he said.

    http://www.abc.net.au/
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  2. #2
    Administrator DIEHARD's Avatar
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    Interesting to see Italy named as an opponent. But we need the two Italian bodies to merge so we can get on with business. Real future there for RL IMO.
    PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!

    Moejoe: "REMEMBER!!!! SLIP - SLOP - SLAP in the sun. Skin Cancer is a growing problem. It could happen to anyone!!"
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