Southern confederate accepts 11 Gulf leagues

By JACK AMI
THE Southern Confederate of the PNG Rugby Football League has accepted the affiliation of 11 leagues from Gulf.
This was after Southern Confederate director Gwaibo Mairi met with Gulf Rugby League president Emmanuel Morehari and Gulf Isapea chairman Jacob Ivaroa to develop the code in the province.
Mairi said the 11 affiliates from Gulf as well as the Port Moresby Rugby League and Motu-Koita had paid their affiliation fee of K500.
He said the deadline for affiliation was mid-February when all affiliated leagues would also attend the PNG Rugby Football League annual general meeting.
Mairi said the Gulf Provincial Rugby League was now recognised as an affiliate of the PNG Rugby Football League and 10 local leagues were under the Gulf umbrella.
He said Morehari and Ivaroa gave K5500 for the 11 leagues last Wednesday.
The leagues are Gulf, Kerema, Tei Kariko, Malalaua, Toaripi, Ihu, Wamai, Murua, Pavorayaso, Baimuru and Kikori.
Mairi said players would have to pay a registration fee of K50 each.
It is also a requirement of the PNGRL that all leagues should have A grade, Under-20 and women’s divisions in their competitions.
Mairi said so far Gulf had the highest number of local leagues in Southern region for the first time which was a positive sign that rugby league would be used for human resource development in the province.
He said Gulf would participate in the Southern Confederation trails in Port Moresby in June.