RLIF team finds ways to progress

By KEVIN TEME
A DELEGATION from the Rugby League International Federation will be traveling to regions in PNG to gauge views and ideas from the public to come up with a strategic plan for rugby league. 
The delegation that arrived in Port Moresby yesterday, will be visiting the four regional centres during the week before the PNG Rugby Football League annual general meeting next Saturday.
The meeting will be held at the Melanesian Hotel in Lae.
RLIF development manager Tas Baitieri said they would be meeting league representatives in the Highlands, Momase, New Guinea Islands and Southern regions.
“The trip is critical for the RLIF to highlight the importance of the PNGRFL and the need to find a speedy resolution to the governance issues of the PNGRFL,” Baitieri said.
The team will meet with the Southern region development officers and rugby league administrators at the Holiday Inn at 2pm today before heading to Mt Hagen.
They are expected to leave for Mt Hagen tomorrow to meet with league executives at the Highlander Hotel.
The delegation will travel to Goroka for their meeting at the Bird of Paradise Hotel.
They will be at the Melanesian Hotel in Lae at 2pm on Monday to meet with league officials before heading to Kokopo to meet with New Guinea Islands league executives. The meeting will be held at the Gazelle International Hotel at 7pm.  
Baitieri said they would be holding similar meetings with league executives, club officials and other to gauge their views on how to promote the welfare of the game so that it could benefit the business organisations, players and fans in PNG.
Data collected from the weeklong consultations with regional officers will be compiled and forwarded to the RLIF executive board and Australia to address the challenges facing rugby league in PNG.
“Rugby league is a national sport in PNG. The RLIF is keen to set a positive agenda that will promote the welfare of the game to benefit the hundreds and thousands of supporters and players in PNG,” Baitieri said.
The delegation will return to Port Moresby on Thursday before heading to Lae for the PNGRFL AGM.