Lack of NID for students defers schools rugby league tour of Qld

THE Coca-Cola National Schools Rugby League tour of Queensland, Australia, has been deferred, according to the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL).
PNGRFL chief executive Reatau Rau said the tour by the Papua New Guinea Under-16 and U18 boys, and U18 girls — which was to have taken place last week during the third term holidays — would now be held between Oct 31 and Nov 7.
Rau said the reason for the postponement was that nearly 75 per cent of the students did not have national identification (NID) cards to obtain a passport for the tour.
“The students are from around the country and the process is quite rigorous to get the NID cards,” Rau said.
“Every person needs their NID card to apply for a passport and nearly three quarters of them don’t have the document.
“You need a passport to get a visa to travel to Australia.”
He said the teams were selected following the Coca-Cola National Schools Rugby League Championships in Port Moresby from July 23-26.
“Four weeks wasn’t enough time to fulfil the process,” Rau said.
“We are working closely with the NID staff in Port Moresby to get all the certificates done within the next week or so.”
He said the three teams would assemble in Port Moresby on Oct 24 for a week’s bonding and training.
“They depart for Brisbane on Oct 31 and return on Nov 7,” Rau said.
He said the full itinerary would be released when the teams were in camp on Oct 24.
Meanwhile, Rau has urged the players to keep training and stay healthy.
“This situation is beyond our control,” he said.
“However, please keep training, stay fit and most importantly, attend school.”
Rau commended Coca-Cola for supporting the National Schools Rugby League.