Warriors considering legal action

THE Chimbu Warriors are considering legal action against the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition after their bid to enter the 2021 Digicel Cup was rejected.
According to a letter from the PNG Rugby Football League to the Mountain Fruit Wine-sponsored club, it stated that the bid was rejected because of a clash with South Pacific Brewery’s interest as the competition’s platinum sponsor and standard of Dickson Oval in Kundiawa.
Franchise manager Teine Korokoi told The National yesterday that the list of requirements for a franchise to enter the Digicel Cup did not specify what industry a team’s sponsor had to be from in order not to clash with a co-sponsor of the competition.
SP and Mountain Fruit Wine are companies that produce alcoholic beverages.
“One of the reasons that PNGRFL rejected the Warriors is that we (Warriors) are sponsored by a wine company, the Mountain Fruit Wine, and PNGRFL is saying they want to protect the interest of their sponsor SP Brewery,” Korokoi said.
“First of all, there is nothing stated in the requirements regarding the protection of SP Brewery’s interest.
“Secondly, SP Brewery produces beer and Mountain Fruit Wine produces wine and we don’t see our sponsorship has any threat to SP’s interest.”
Korokoi said with regard to the assessment of their home ground Dickson Oval, they had made improvements to the field and main stand and it had been inspected by PNGRFL acting chief executive officer Stanley Hondina and he was satisfied with the venue.