PNGRU doomed as Oceania Rugby extends suspension for six more months
The future of Papua New Guinea Rugby Union has been further darkened with Oceania Rugby extending the suspension of PNGRU for a further six months, with a final request issued to president Paul Siwi for outstanding documentation related to the organisation’s activities.
The final notice follows an almost year-long engagement between Oceania Rugby and PNGRU with sanctions imposed on the governing body from the regional association, World Rugby, and the PNG National Olympic Committee.
An Independent panel of esteemed professionals has been engaged by Oceania Rugby to undertake a review of PNGRU’s operational policies and financial statements in order to aid Oceania Rugby in making its final determination.
The Independent panel is comprised of representatives from across the Oceania region:
- Mr. John Kirkup, a qualified Chartered Accountant and Head of Group Strategy, Planning and Performance at New Zealand Rugby (NZR). Mr Kirkup is also Chair of the Oceania Rugby Audit & Risk Committee.
- Ms. Karo Maha-Lelai, a lawyer by profession and has held seats as the former chairperson of the Athletes Commission for the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and is a current member of the Ethics Committee of Federation International Basketball Associations (FIBA). Ms. Maha-Lelai is the Country Manager for the Porgera mine in PNG.
- Mr. Anare Manulevu, current Partner, Advisory – Enterprise for KPMG Fiji, and newly elected board member of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU).
Oceania Rugby management were alerted in June last year with allegations made by provincial members of apparent misconduct by the PNGRU board.
The allegations relate to claims of mismanagement by board representatives and not fulfilling constitutional obligations to members.
The allegations made against the governing body coincided with the women’s national team missing the first round of the 2024 Oceania Rugby Women’s XVs Championships in Brisbane, and the non-attendance of both the men’s and women’s national sevens teams at the Olympic qualifiers in Monaco.
Following several requests by Oceania Rugby management for PNGRU cooperation in facilitating an audit of its activities, the non-adherence to these initial orders issued last July resulted in the suspension of the Union’s membership from both the regional body and World Rugby.
The PNG National Olympic Committee subsequently suspended the Unions membership after its internal review of the events leading into the non-attendance in Monaco.
Oceania Rugby General Manager Frank Puletua said whilst the decision to extend PNGRU’s suspension is disappointing, it is important that the independent panel be afforded every opportunity to diligently complete a fair review, given the importance of re-establishing rugby in Papua New Guinea.
“PNG is a very important member of the Oceania Rugby family, and it is our intent to see this proud Union assume its rightful place amongst its fellow members.
“However, it is the role of the Regional Association to look into matters that cast a negative light on rugby in Oceania with serious claims that have the potential to bring the game into disrepute.
Attempts to get comments from PNG Rugby President Paul Siwi were unsuccessful.