PNGRFL awaiting approval

THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has tentatively set April 24-25 to kick off its rugby league season, pending approval from the Office of the Pandemic Controller.
PNGRFL chief executive Stanley Hondina said this was due to the new measures announced last week by Controller David Manning following the recent spike in Covid-19 cases.
“We at PNGRFL, like every citizen in PNG, respect these new measures and are obliged to strictly adapt to the ‘niupla pasin’ protocols,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Hondina said the ‘Banis Protocols’, under which the Digicel Cup was successfully run in 2020, were being reviewed and revised to include selected affiliated leagues and schools to start their competitions.
“We have submitted these revised protocols to the Controller’s Office for approval so that the 12 Digicel Cup franchises, compliant affiliated leagues and schools in the country, can resume preparations and training to tentatively kick off on the weekend of April 24 and 25,” he said.
“This includes closed, opposed sessions and trial matches with no inter-provincial travels over the next four weeks.”
Hondina said the Digicel Cup was the second rugby league competition after Australia’s NRL played worldwide in 2020.
“The PNG National Rugby League Competition managed the Digicel Cup franchise draws, travels, accommodation and all associated activities quite strictly under the Banis Protocols with no transmission of the virus reported,” he said.
“We appreciate the support and co-operation of the Office of the Pandemic Controller and staff, PNG Sports Foundation, the Digicel Cup franchises, our valued stakeholders and partners and the rugby league families and supporters in PNG for its success.”
He urged franchises, leagues and schools to observe the new measures until approval was granted.