Province set for clash of districts in tournament

WESTERN Highlands is set to start its own major offseason rugby league tournament with the inaugural Districts of Origin series to be played over four weekends from Nov 22 to Dec 27.
The tournament will involve teams from the four districts of Hagen Central, Dei, Tambul-Nebilyer and Mul-Baiyer and will be staged at the Rebiamul Oval in Mt Hagen.
Tournament director and long-time Coca-Cola Ipatas Cup coordinator for Western Highlands, James Meninga, said the prize pool would be K50,000 and had been donated by local businessman Charles Lee.
Meninga said Lee, 38, from Mul-Baiyer, had a background in finance and had served the private sector but was now involved in the small to medium enterprise (SME) space in the province.
Meninga said the staging of the tournament heading into Christmas would give the people, especially youths, something to look forward to and to be a part of diverting their attentions from other negative activities.
He praised Lee as a young visionary leader who aimed to unite youths, both students and villagers, to be part of an exciting event and for a memorable end to a challenging year.
“Since it is Christmas and to stay away from the common and norm of bad practises, Lee has initiated the tournament,’’ the tournament director said.
Meninga said the plan was for the WHP Christmas Eve Districts of Origin Rugby League tournament to one day become as big as the Ipatas Cup.
He invited teams from the four districts to register interest with a maximum of four teams per district.
The team registration fee is K100 and the tournament would only have space for 16 teams.
Meninga said he expected talent scouts from the Digicel Cup franchises to watch the games and recruit players.
For more information on the Districts of Origin series James Meninga can be reached on Mobile: 700 03 950 or email: [email protected]; or Nickson Kolo on Mobile :712 95 111.