Islands confed meeting set

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) is set to hold its final consultative meeting with representatives of all associations and stakeholders of four provinces in the New Guinea Islands Confederation in Rabaul, East New Britain, on Saturday.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said consultations will be around the establishment of provincial boards, confederation boards and the new governance and management framework for PNGRFL under the ‘New Ireland Model’ reforms.
“The PNGRFL board and management will meet with the presidents of 17 affiliate members and women’s and schools associations who expressed their interest earlier this year in the NGI Confederation,” he said.
“We will also meet with stakeholder representatives from provincial governments, provincial franchises, provincial police commanders, provincial business councils, provincial health authorities and provincial sports councils of the four provinces.”
Tsaka said the 17 leagues were Buka, North (Bougainville), Rabaul, Gazelle, Kokopo (East New Britain), Kimbe, Soi, Mosa (West New Britain), Lihir, Namatanai, Kavieng, Tanga, Matalai, Madak, Tabar, New Hanover and Musau (New Ireland).
“It is important to note that under the ‘New Ireland Model’ governance and management framework, the provincial and confederate boards are empowered with powers and responsibilities by PNGRFL to manage all rugby league programmes within their respective jurisdictions consistent with the 2021 PNGRFL calendar,” he said. “As such, it is imperative that all representatives and stakeholders of the sport in the New Guinea Islands Confederation attend this important consultative meeting to effectively work with PNGRFL to develop the game in their areas.”
The meeting starts at 1pm at Rabaul Community College.
“Please confirm your attendance by 5pm on Friday,” the chairman said.
Tsaka said consultative meetings with the other three confederations — Highlands, Southern and Northern — had been held with ‘positive’ feedbacks.main