23 October 2013

Australia welcomes PNG joining the Queensland Cup

Australian High Commissioner, Deborah Stokes, has warmly welcomed the announcement that a Papua New Guinea team will join the Queensland Cup rugby league competition in 2014.

“Australia and Papua New Guinea share many close connections, and none are stronger than our mutual love of sport. So I am thrilled that PNG’s national sport - rugby league – will have the opportunity to showcase itself through joining the Queensland Cup competition next year. This is a huge opportunity for the game in PNG to develop further as well as for our two countries to celebrate all that we have in common.”

Australia has been very supportive of rugby league in PNG, and this is demonstrated most clearly through the annual Prime Minister’s XIII match between Australia and Papua New Guinea. Australia has also established and funded a K9 million ‘Rugby League in Schools’ program which is being rolled out through primary schools in 2013/14.

Papua New Guinea has produced super stars playing in the toughest competition in the world, the National Rugby League. The agreement signed between the Queensland Rugby League and PNG Rugby League is a great opportunity for more young Papua New Guineans to demonstrate and develop their raw talent and skills.

Australia is looking forward to welcoming the PNG team to Queensland for their matches and knows that PNG will provide wonderful hospitality and unforgettable experiences for the visiting Australian teams and their supporters.