League sets AGM date

 THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League annual general meeting will be held from 10am on May 31 at the Melanesian Hotel, in Lae.

Chairman Don Fox made the announcement after a meeting in Mt Hagen on Saturday, where the board met with all Highlands leagues presidents and representatives as part of consultations across the country.

So far board and regional meetings have been held in Lae, Kokopo and Port Moresby. 

The Highlands region was the last meeting where the full support of the interim board and the restructure being undertaken was voiced.

Fox said it was important to hold regional meetings to consult with leagues across the country;

“We undertook the enormous task of meeting with and consulting with the leagues across the nation as they are stakeholders in the game and it is important they have a voice,” he said.  “Despite the short time-frame and the huge job we have had we are following court orders and have set our AGM for May 31.

“A draft of a new constitution has been completed and will be distributed to all leagues before the AGM, where it will be presented as per the court orders. 

“The work has been constant and we have done everything possible in our short time to ensure the AGM will be held successfully and that the immediate PNGRFL concerns and issued are addressed so the board voted in at the AGM can continue the great work already started.

“I would like to thank the board of directors, the minister for sport and the Rugby League Foundation who have all been magnificent in their efforts. 

“It truly has been a very strong working relationship and augurs well for the future of rugby league, with all bodies working together for the game and not for personal self-interest. 

“The board members have represented their regions extremely well and the leagues should be proud of their representatives in what they have achieved. 

“They have been hard at work in their regions and presented at the meeting in Hagan the number of leagues who have completed or are in the process of completing their affiliation requirements. 

“All details concerning affiliation and nominees have already been relayed to the leagues by the regional PNGRFL directors as well as at our regional meetings and we expect these will be finalised and tidied up over the next two weeks. 

“Only leagues who are properly affiliated will be able to attend the AGM. Those who haven’t will not be allowed to take part.”

Leagues already affiliated or in the process of finalising affiliation are: Southern Zone – 16, Islands Zone – 17, Northern Zone – 10 and Highlands Zone – 19.

Fox reiterated no decision had been made on where and when two matches would be played against Fiji. “We are in consultation with Mal (Meninga) and Adrian (Lam) about the international schedule to ensure it achieves the best result possible for the players, the league and the people of PNG.”