More media coverage on women’s rugby league vital, says PNGRFL

THE growth of women’s rugby league in the country is evident but lack of media coverage is why a lot of people are not aware of the development, says an official.
Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) chairman Sandis Tsaka made the remarks in response to queries from the media regarding women’s rugby league competitions outside Port Moresby.
Tsaka also clarified to the media that it was a requirement to have women’s competitions in order for leagues be affiliated with PNGRFL.
“If you want to be affiliate with PNGRFL, you have to have three divisions — senior men’s, U20 men’s and women’s,” he said.
“If you don’t have those three divisions, you cannot be an affiliate. Initially, when we started three years ago, there were cultural barriers and taboos that we had to break and few leagues had to raise this issue.
“But I sit here proud to tell everyone that we have around 49 affiliates and only two of them do not have women’s divisions.
“So you talk about 47 leagues throughout the country that have women playing.
“Four years ago, we probably had only six leagues with women’s competitions.”
Tsaka described the re-branding of the National Schools Rugby League as another platform which had seen girls competing.
“Last year, we launched and re-branded the schools programme for women to have a fair chance,” he said.
“Growth in the women’s game has been massive because the girls’ game is growing three times the rate of the boys’ game.
“Just because it is not in the media and public spotlight does not mean that it’s not happening.
“The media has limited space, so we only get to see the Hunters and Digicel Cup, and that’s the tip of the iceberg.
“Rugby league investment starts at the grassroots level, and the women’s game in this country has already grown.”
PNG Orchids chairperson Ruth Waram, who also started her career in the media industry, challenged agencies in the country to help develop the women’s game from the junior level right to the top by providing fair coverage.