PNG to face US in World 9s

Sports

TRADITIONAL rivals will bump heads in a spectacular opening night of matches of the Downer World Nines in October.
Papua New Guinea face England in the women’s tournament at 6.45pm before the national team face the United States at 9.45pm on Oct 18 at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, Australia.
Hosts Australia will face New Zealand in both men’s and women’s games, while England take on Wales, Tonga meets the Cook Islands, and Samoa prepare for one of the tournament favourites, Fiji.
An opening ceremony will be held at 6pm before kick-off in the first of 28 games on the two-day programme — France versus Lebanon at 6.20pm.
The following day will feature two PNG men’s and women’s double-headers, while the stands will shake when Samoa and Tonga start their cultural dances ahead of their meeting.
That’s all part of nine hours of action on Saturday, Oct 19 with all teams — 12 men’s and four women’s — playing a minimum of two games.
The men’s semifinals will be held at 6.55pm and 7.20pm before the women’s final at 7.45pm and the men’s final at 9pm.
“This tournament is all about entertainment — fans can see some of the best players involved in more than 12 hours of action-packed rugby league across the two days,” said NRL chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo.
“Having the traditional rivalries of Australia-New Zealand and Tonga-Samoa among other great clashes will be enthralling viewing during the pool stages.
“The rivalries, the men’s and women’s doubleheaders, the colour of the competing fans, will give us wonderful entertainment.”
Group A includes Australia, New Zealand, PNG and USA, Group B has England, France, Lebanon and Wales, and Group C features Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
The two highest-placed teams from Group A will progress to the semifinals alongside the winners of Groups B and C.
The two highest-placed teams from the women’s pool, which features Australia, New Zealand, England and PNG, will fight out the women’s final.
“The excitement is building for this magnificent event, watching our finest international athletes compete at this super-charged form of rugby league is too good to miss,” Rugby League International Federation southern hemisphere general manager Jeremy Edwards said.
Fixtures: Fri, Oct 18 – PNG v England (women), PNG v United States; Sat, Oct 19 – PNG v New Zealand (women), PNG New Zealand, PNG v Australia, PNG v Australia (women). – NRL