RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 1975

International Team - Kumuls

Highest finish in World Cup - Quarter Final (2000)

Top level domestic competition - The Digicel Cup consist of 10 teams: Simbu Warriors, Goroka Lahanis, Mt Hagen Eagles, Enga Mioks, Mendi Muruks, Lae Snax Tigers, Rabaul Gurias, Port Moresby Vipers, Hela Wigmen (New), and Gulf Isapeas (New) Season runs from May to October.

History - Rugby League was introduced into Papua New Guinea via Australian serviceman stationed there during the Second World War. Papua New Guinea joined the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) in 1974 and have been playing rugby league at an international level ever since. Rugby League is now classed as Papua New Guinea's national sport. Recent reports from the Papua New Guinea government estimate that a third of PNG's six million population play league.

Papua New Guinea's first international game was against a touring English team on their way to Australia in 1975. Played at Port Moresby the English defeated the Kumuls in trying conditions 40 - 12.

In a sign of the RLIF growing confidence in the international game, Papua New Guinea were invited to participate in the newly formatted World Cups of (1986 - 1988) and (1989 - 1992). Papua New Guinea did not disappoint with a shock victory over New Zealand 24 - 22 in Port Moresby in 1986.

In the 1995 World Cup Papua New Guinea were grouped with New Zealand and Tonga. The first match against Tonga went down to the wire with the final score locked at 28 all. The Kumuls played the Kiwis in their final pool game and put in a respectable performance before eventually running out of steam losing 22 - 6.

In the 2000 World Cup PNG made history by finishing top of their pool and qualifying for the quarter finals for the first time. Led by Adrian Lam PNG went on to lose the game against Wales but had showed the rest of the rugby league world how far they had progressed. When the players returned to PNG they were greeted by thousands of PNG fans. Rugby League in PNG had come of age.

PNG were automatic qualifiers for the 2008 World Cup. They were grouped with Australia, New Zealand and England in the super pool. PNG nearly upset England in the first match of the Pool but eventually went down 32 - 22. The Kumuls also preformed well against Kiwis and Kangaroos scoring a try in each game against there much fancied opponents. All in all Papua New Guinea showed pride and passion for the jersey and made another statement to the NRL regarding the ongoing battle to have a Port Moresby team included in the NRL. Adrian Lam also called for more international games for Papua New Guinea to help with the ongoing development of Kumuls.

During the 2008 World Cup, PNGRL put forward a proposal to have a PNG based team enter the NRL by 2015. The plan is to have the proposed team enter into the QLD Cup by 2010. PNG will need to rally local businesses and the government to assist in the re-development of Port Moresby Oval to meet NRL standards. Elements of the Australian Government have backed the proposal which would give the only nation to claim Rugby League as there number one national sport a huge boost at local and international levels. The PNG government are willing to put 20 million dollars towards a new stadium and their NRL ambitions.

In early 2009 Papua New Guinea were ranked 6th in World seedings by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).

The good news continues for Papua New Guinea with as they defeated Tonga and the Cook Islands to win the 2009 Pacific Cup competition. On the back of this win Papua New Guinea have secured a place in the 2010 Four Nations tournament to be held in the southern hemisphere. The Four Nations tournament will include Australia, New Zealand, England and the Pacific Cup winner (PNG). Papua New Guinea will now be able pickup where they left off in the 2008 Would Cup.

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Papua New Guinea we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.