League launches 2015 season

 THE 2015 Digicel Cup season was launched on Saturday night in Port Moresby. 

Important guests at the launching included Papua New Guinea National Rugby League chairman Sudir Guru and the naming-rights sponsor’s new chief executive officer Maurice McCarthy. 

Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko was not able to attend because of other work commitments.   

Guru said the cup was still the biggest sporting event in the country with a large following and this year the competition to be bigger and better with the re-entry of the Waghi Tumbe.   This year marks the fifth consecutive year for the mobile telecommunications service provider to be the semi-professional competition’s major sponsor, with the PNGNRL recently signing a contract with the firm for a K2.4 million sponsorship for 2015 and 2016.

Guru acknowledged former chief executive officer John Mangos, who supported the top-tier domestic rugby league competition in 2011 and he was looking forward to the partnership being strengthened over the next two years.

He said it was a challenge every year to manage the competition, organising travel and accommodation for the teams on a weekly basis but with good corporate support, the job was made easier.

McCarthy said it was any honour to support the country’s leading rugby league competition for another season.

He said his firm’s objective in supporting sport had always been a priority. 

The competition will kick off this weekend with 11 teams. 

Teams: Agmark Gurias, Mt Hagen Eagles, Hela Wigmen, Port Moresby Vipers, Simbu Lions, Enga Mioks, Mendi Muruks, Goroka Lahanis, Lae Tigers, Gulf Isapea, Wahgi Tumbe.