Rugby Union may not be the most popular sport in Papua New Guinea, but it is the predecessor to rugby league, the most popular sport in PNG.

Over the years rugby league has grown in popularity while rugby union had been at an all-time low, but the recent resurgence of rugby union has bought with it a growing interest.

The New Town Chiefs are youths from the outskirts of Port Moresby from Edai Town, with a few boys within city limits.

The team has a strong hold of rugby league; established in 2021 the team has ventured into rugby union, a sport that the team has come to relish.

New Town Chiefs are taking part in the annual Niu Power Sports Tok sevens tournament, their Coach Mara Katam is pleased with the blend of players.

“The team was formed with a mixture of rugby league and rugby union players, some have 15s experience through the Brothers Rugby Union club, while the rest are rugby league players” Katam added.

The team went down to a strong University Piggies side in their Pool C opener on Saturday, a 26-10 loss to the established club, but the Chiefs managed to make a comeback statement with a 39-7 thumping of fellow debutants Niu Power Hiri West giving the Chiefs some much needed momentum heading to day two on Sunday.

“It was a slow start with the players familiarizing themselves with the rules of the game, but we managed a convincing win in our second match” Coach Katam added.

With the Sports Tok Sevens honing in on the growth of sevens in PNG, the tournament has grassroots teams like the Chiefs finding their place in the code of rugby union sevens.

“A big thank you to the Sports Tok sevens, we are giving these boys the opportunity to play sevens and hopefully they come to love the sport of rugby union as well” Katam concluded.

The Sports Tok Sevens tournament continues on Sunday and ends with the finals to be played on Monday.

CRU Boromas are Cup winners of the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Super 7s’ Rugby Series held in Port Moresby after a 17-12 victory over Kimbe Rebels at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium on Sunday.

The boys from the Capital Rugby Union snatched the victory right on fulltime beating the Kimbe Rebels. Boromas had most of the ball possession in the opening minutes of the first half but turned over possession a number of times.

Kimbe Rebels wasted no time with fast rucks and line breaks through the middle and edges of the Boroma defense but also failed to put on points. A penalty by Kimbe Rebels for holding down paved way for Boromas to build up for the opening try.

Rebels were caught offside during a sideline throw with Boromas carving through the middle of the field with excellent support play from Terang and Wakin as the CRU boys made it look easy for Derrick Voku to cross over the line for a 5 pointer.

With a minute left before halftime, a penalty for holding on gave the West New Britain boys a sniff near the Boromas tryline. Speed sensation, Rex David plunged through the Boromas line with a wide pass to the right finding Peter Paul to dash down the sideline but was stopped by the Boromas cover defense.

But a penalty conceded by the CRU Boromas in the rucks gave more advantage to the visitors with Rebel’s Rex David levelling the score with a solo effort try next to the post. Robinson Gala for the Kimbe Rebels converted the try to take the lead 7-5 into the halftime. Rex David was given a yellow card for interfering after he scored.

The WNB boys crossed over in the first minute of the second half with Paul Peter diving in the left corner to extend the lead for Kimbe Rebels 12 – 5 Boromas. A failed short kickoff by the Rebels saw the home side make grounds towards the Rebel’s tryline.

From there the Boromas scored their second try after consecutive rucks with the conversion successful and locking up the scores at 12 all. Handling errors by the Kimbe Rebels was costly. Boromas threw the ball around before a penalty by Kimbe Rebel’s Captain Rex David resulted in a try as the home side played against a 6 men team.

The CRU Boromas try sealed the game with Boromas coming out Cup winners of the KPHL Super 7’s Rugby Series with a final score CRU Boromas 17 defeating Kimbe Rebels 12.

JRA Limited has come on board with a K5,000 financial assistance to the Southern Highlands Rugby Union team Mendi Mustangs. The Mustangs are currently taking part in the Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited Super 7’s Series in Port Moresby.

The funding was presented to the Team by JRA Limited Chief Executive Officer Jacob Anga, at the 5mile Camp recently.

“I will continue to support Mustangs in future tournaments too. I urge other business houses and organizations to come forward and help bring the game forward in Southern Highlands. I ‘am proud to see the Team compete with the rest of Papua New Guinea in a national event,” said CEO Anga.

As a former player, who was part of the PNG Pukpuks squad in the 1990’s, Mr Anga said the gesture is not only about financial help but to grow the rugby union code back in Mendi. He said there are talented players who need guidance and proper support.

Mendi Rugby Football Union President, Robin Asok, thanked JRA Limited for the sponsorship, saying that finding sponsors has been very difficult for the team. He said this will assist their stay in the nation’s capital during the KPHL Super 7’s Series.

“We are grateful for this support,” said Asok.

During the occasion, Mendi Mustangs Manager, Lawrence Puyu presented Mr Anga with merchandise for the Mustangs’ and officially welcomed Mr Anga into the team.

Apart from major sponsors KPHL, Cane Construction Limited assisted with K3,000, with some support coming from Kumin Catholic Church Bishop, Donald Lippert.

Mendi Mustangs have been competing in PNG Rugby Football Union sanctioned tournaments since 2012 and have produced talents like PNG Pukpuks regular, Wesley Vali and Orchids 7’s star, Tere Rema.

Moni Plus Port Moresby Vipers have recorded their second home game win with a nail biting victory over Agmark Rabaul Gurias in the 2022 Digicel Cup Round Two match at the National Football Stadium yesterday.

The Vipers opened the score board with a penalty goal by Yunny Patrick 28minutes into the game. Visitors Agmark Rabaul Gurias did not back down putting on their wall of defense has the home team threw the ball around with several attempts to cross over the try line.

The Gurias made big yards into the Vipers territory with super ball work with Sipa Peter scoring in the 33rd minute to take the lead into half time 4-2.

The second half was tense has both sides made grounds through the center of the field but fail to score with handling errors. A penalty opportunity gave Vipers to level up 4 minutes into the second half.

It was not long when the Gurias threw the ball around gaining yards into the Vipers territory. With a number of set recounts, a penalty by the home team gave the visitors the chance to level up the score with a penalty goal conversion.

Vipers centre Willie Tirang cross over the line in the 52nd minute giving the lead to Vipers 8 while Gurias 6. Gurias level the scores again in the 65th minute with another successful penalty conversion leaving the score 8 all.

Former Hunters stars Gary Lo and Ase Boas rallied the Gurias side setting half field brakes and however failed to put points. The Game went down to the wire with both teams tightening their defense and created attempts to break the score line.

With Vipers dominating the last 10 minutes of the game with good ball possession, but with 3 minutes left Vipers star Karis Peter slotted a field goal in the 77th minute to seal the victory for the home team ending the game with a 9 – 8 victory by the Port Moresby Vipers.

The other two games at the National Football Stadium saw EPG Enga Mioks beating Kroton Hela Wigmen 20 points to 14 despite a second half comeback by the Wigmen. Gulf Isou also recorded their second win beating the Central Dabaris 22 – 8.

73 years of uninterrupted rugby league is a proud statement, Port Moresby Rugby Football league (POMRFL) established in 1949 as Papuan Rugby League (PRL) is gearing up for this years 73rd season, dispite setbacks by COVID-19 in the past two years, the league has been able to run competitions and hold grand finals in each of its three divisions, despite having two clubs the Brothers and Souths serving a 5 year ban over breach of competition guidelines in 2021, only 12 clubs to remain, the leagues administration says no new clubs are expected to join the competition in 2022.

“That is an obvious question by POMRFL followers, but at this stage No! we are running with 12 clubs, one of the reasons is because the 2 clubs are not banned for life.

“They were banned for five years, they can always comeback and reclaim thier place in the competition”. This was cleard by Meke Maino the POMRFL Administrator.

Teams are definitely preparing for the start of the season, with the annual preseason nines ending tommorrow on Sunday with a total budget of K20,000 allocated for the preseason, the money is a remainder from the 2021 sponsorship deal with SP Brewery, the brewery has maintained uninterrupted sponsorship for the past 68 years since 1953, the 6th of May is slated for the start of this years POMRFL proper season.

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) is thankful for the return of international rugby league matches after a two-year absence.

PNGRFL Board Chairman, Sandis Tsaka

In a statement PNGRFL Board Chairman, Sandis Tsaka acknowledge the support of the National Rugby League (NRL) and the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) for supporting the mid-year international matches for the Pacific nations this year.

Tsaka said with the 2021 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) scheduled later this year, the PNG LNG Kumuls are looking forward to the mid-year test as an opportunity to build the national team.

“The PNG LNG Kumuls and the Fiji Batis have had a great Melanesian rivalry over the last few years and this year’s international meet will be another exciting chapter,” said Chairman Tsaka.

 He also stated that the resignation of PNG LNG Kumuls Coach, Michael Marum as well as some key players will provide opportunities for new players to continue to build on the great success that the national men’s rugby league team has had over the last eight years. 

 Chairman Tsaka said PNGRFL is completing the process for the appointment of the new Kumuls’ Head Coach with the announcement to be made next week.

“The extended PNG LNG Kumuls’ squad for the mid-year test will be finalized by the new Head Coach and the PNG national selectors,” said Tsaka.

 PNGRFL is optimistic the wide pool of talented PNG players playing in the NRL, the Queensland Rugby League (QRL) and the New South Wales Rugby League Competition (NSWRLC), will see selectors assemble a strong team for the mid-year Kumuls test and also preparations towards the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England.