Kumuls tour in RLIF plans

PAPUA New Guinea will have a chance to tour the United Kingdom next year, according to a Rugby League International Federation official.
RLIF Southern Hemisphere general manager Jeremy Edwards, who was in the Port Moresby this week, announced that 2019 would be an exciting year for rugby league in preparation for the 2021 World Cup.
Leading up to the second international fixture between the PNG LNG Kumuls and the England Knights, Edwards, who visited the PNGRFL office midweek with Rugby League World Cup (RLWC 21) Legacy programme manager Tracy Power, said they had plans to give the Kumuls a change of scenery with games in the Northern Hemisphere.
“Like the England Knights who’ve come down to the Southern Hemisphere to experience the game and style in the Pacific, we also have plans to bring not only Kumuls but also some of the Pacific teams up to the Northern Hemisphere to experience the style of football and climate there,” Edwards said.
“This will help them be familiar with the conditions ahead of the 2021 World Cup in England.”
The last time the Kumuls toured the Northern Hemisphere was at the 2013 World Cup in England and France.
“We had a great time in Papua New Guinea last year when Kumuls took on Wales and what a hot climate the Welsh players had to contend with,” Edwards said.
“That situation is going to be reversed. We need to work in both hemispheres to develop rugby league.
“This is not only about development but also supporting all the local federations to make sure that they are prepared before the World Cup.”
Edwards commended the PNGRFL for upgrading their programme in creating development divisions from children from the age of 10 up to the national schools competitions which included a female component as well which provided a pathway to the representative teams.
“We are here to support the development programmes in PNG and the PNGRFL’s input in developing rugby league here is not only recognised by the Southern Hemisphere office but the world body as well,” Edwards said.
“We are looking forward to growing rugby league in the Pacific not only in the test matches but also looking ahead to organise matches for emerging and junior sides countries in the Pacific.”
Edward said he was also looking forward to organizing a tournament that would see all the Pacific Island nations play each other on a regular basis.
“That means the Kumuls will play Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand in preparation for the 2021 World Cup,” he said.
Papua New Guinea Rugby League chief executive Reatau Rau thanked Edward saying his league was excited about the developments and direction the RLIF was taking the international game in the region.