Foundation, PNGRU set Covid-19 8-week plan

An eight-week plan is being drawn up as Papua New Guinea Rugby Union (PNGRU) and the PNG Sports Foundation (PNGSF) look to start competitions by July.
PNGSF chief medical officer Dr Kapua Kapua said the plan was targeted clubs and would see teams undergo different types of training to accommodate hygiene and social distancing restrictions.
“At the moment, we have an eight-week plan,” he said.
“Four weeks of normal non-contact training, then two weeks of semi-contact training and two weeks of contact training before competitions start.
“It really isn’t up to us, it is up to the Government to allow competitions to start.
“So the main thing is to have all the unions resume training .
“But they’re (Government) going to decide if we’ll just have matches for the season without spectators or if there can be some spectators allowed.”
Kapua said before the Covid-19 pandemic, rugby union and other sports were capable of running competitions on their own with little restrictions from authorities, however, the change will put pressure on how prepared unions will be this year.
Meanwhile, PNGRU said the international governing body, World Rugby, had released a back-to-rugby guideline which would assist in rugby programmes and competitions.
The guideline provides information on a safe return to rugby following the pandemic.
It provides the framework around which unions can prepare policies and guidelines to resume the activities which are appropriate to their setting.