The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) has announced its inaugural gender strategy, which will work to advance gender equality in rugby league through an inclusive, safe, and empowering environment that enables women, men, girls and boys to participate and lead at all levels of the game.
The strategy’s creation has been supported by the Australian Government through the PNG Rugby League Pathways Development Program, which is working in partnership with PNG rugby league stakeholders to build stronger foundations for young women’s and men’s active participation and high performance in rugby league.
Developed through consultation with people playing, coaching and working in rugby league around the country and a collaborative design process involving PNGRFL, the PNG NRL Academy and staff from the PNG Rugby League Pathways Development Program; the strategy is aligned to PNGRFL’s vision of ‘Better People, Better Sport, Better Nation’.
It defines practical actions for rugby league stakeholders to drive progress for women and girls in four areas: participation (including coaching); leadership, visibility (including media), and safe and respectful environments.
PNGRFL is the first national federation in PNG to develop such a detailed gender equality framework – leading the way in the Pacific region.
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Ewen McDonald said: “The Australian Government is delighted to support this significant milestone for rugby league in PNG. Having a structured framework for creating more inclusive, safer and more empowering rugby league environments for women and girls will have far reaching impacts on the nation and is an important step on PNG’s journey to having an NRLW franchise in the future.”
In announcing the strategy ahead of a bumper year of women’s programs and competitions in 2026 including PNG’s hosting of world cup matches, PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina said that prioritising rugby league for women and girls is a priority.
“In recent years PNGRFL has been prioritising rugby league for women and girls as part of our overall strategy, and this document will guide us in focusing our activities and programs to have impact in a number of areas,” he said.
Santos PNG Orchid Ms Carol Humeu, who represented the country at the last two World Cups, says that this is a step in the right direction.
“I am encouraged that our up and coming players, both female and male, will be supported to equally participate in our national sport of rugby league. I have witnessed so much change and improvement since I began playing rugby league in 2012, and I believe the activities in this strategy will help to progress gender equality in and through rugby league even more,” she said.
Mt Hagen Eagles Women’s Head Coach and 2025 Santos Cup Coach of the Year, Ms Regila Wilfred says the strategy will improve the sport.
“It is a huge step forward that PNG rugby league now has a detailed strategy for making the sport a better place for women and girls.” she said.
ENDS
H.E. Ewen McDonald, Australian High Commissioner to PNG (third from left), Ms Lorna McPherson, PNG NRL Chiefs CEO (fourth from left), Mr Stanley Hondina, PNGRFL CEO (fifth from left) along with panel members during the PNGRFL Gender Equality Strategy Launch in Port Moresby.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100