Province pilots concept

By ROBINSON LEKA
The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) in partnership with the New Ireland government on Friday launched the country’s first rugby league provincial board.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said the launch of the New Ireland model marked a milestone for rugby league as a pilot project in giving more autonomy to provinces to manage their leagues and programmes.
The launch saw the swearing in of board members which was approved by the provincial executive council.
“The launching is a momentous day not only for New Ireland but for the country in terms of our number one game in PNG.
“The New Ireland is a new concept that is going to change the way the game is going to be managed in the country.
“It’s also something that New Ireland has talked about at the national level in politics like involving things autonomy, decentralisation and power sharing which is a better way to manage the game.”
This starts a new chapter in the game’s administration across the country and when we introduce it to our affiliate leagues, we will be using the New Ireland model to the provinces.
“The signing of the new board actually starts a new journey for getting the province organised through rugby league,” the PNGRFL chairman said
New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan commended the initiative and backed the PNGRFL’s concept of leaving an independent board outside the provincial government to manage and administer the game and its programmes.