Port Moresby 9s dates finally confirmed

By BENJAMIN KOITAKA
THE Port Moresby Rugby League (PRL) pre-season nines will kick-off next week, says an official.
The six-day annual nines had been deferred twice due to the participating clubs not fulfilling the registration requirements.
PRL operations manager Meke Mainosaid the tournament which was supposed to start this weekend and end next weekend (Feb 16-17) was deferred because the clubs were yet to present their yearly reports and other requirements at the PRL annual general meeting.
The new MRDC 9s dates are Feb 15-17 and Feb 22-24.
Maino said the annual general meeting had also been deferred to Feb 16.
“They (clubs) did not submit their acquittals and reports as per the PRL constitution so we deferred the meeting to next week,” Maino said.
“Each club has to meet the requirement so that the competition should flow under the rules.”
Maino said the invitation was open for the non-affiliated PRL clubs or teams to take part in the Minerals Resources Development Company-sponsored nines.
Maino said the invitational slots for four men’s and two women’s teams were yet to be filled.
He said organisers were aiming to have 32 men’s and 16 women’s teams for the nines.
The registration for the invitational teams is K600 and K500 for PRL-affiliated clubs.
PRL clubs that registered two men’s teams would pay K800 instead of K1000.
Maino said the Hanuabada Hawks had registered four teams (three men’s and a women’s side).
PRL deputy chairman Wari Varage said he would ask the PNGRFL and National Football Stadium venue management for them to use the main stadium as well as field two.
“We’re hoping to use both fields at the NFS in order for our competition to run our games so we can complete the draws on time,” Varage said.
“We also deferred the nines to allow the clubs time to organise their registration payments and prepare their teams,” the deputy chairman added.