Tsaka lauds federation

Sports

By MELTON PAIS
THE Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League board has welcomed the decision by the RLIF Board to organise the Pacific Island Four Nations matches in the newly formed Oceania Cup format.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka, pictured, together with chief executive officer Reatau Rau attended the Rugby League International Federation annual congress in York, England, last week.
During the congress, the RLIF board announced changes to next year’s international calendar and the following year in the lead-up to the 2021 World Cup.
PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka, said it was a great boost for PNG “to have a reliable calendar of games that we can promote to our fans, players and stakeholders”.
RUF Southern Hemisphere general manager Jeremy Edwards said the programme gives everyone a framework to work with.
“The Oceania Cup gives the Pacific nations the ideal platform to continue the immense progress that they have made over the past few years,” Edwards said.
There are also ongoing discussions to ensure that the programme for the women’s game and for wheelchair rugby league are advanced at a similar rate to the men’s game.
The RLIF board approved Australia, New Zealand and Tonga would compete in one Oceania Cup group in 2019 with Samoa, Fiji and PNG in the other.
The tournament will be staged in 2020 and 2022, either side of the 2021 World Cup, which will mirror the European Championship in the Northern Hemisphere.
The British Lions will tour the Southern Hemisphere to face New Zealand, Tonga, Samo Fiji and PNG — subject to consultation with the major leagues and player representatives.