PNGRFL focuses on female youth programs

Central Dabaris fullback Mala Mark (with ball) taking on Goroka Lahanis defenders during the PNG Women's National Competition grand final last year (Image: Santos Cup)

The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League [PNGRFL] has embarked on carrying out programs to enhance and drive participation within youth rugby league with a focus on girls and women, through its Better Rugby League Development Program [BETTER RLDP].

The program BETTER RLDP aims to create a supportive and empowering environment for female athletes to learn and excel in rugby league, an eight [8]-week program based on fundamental football skills and wellbeing education.

The targeted age group is between 17 – 22 years old, with encouragement to young girls from all sports and those keen on trying out for rugby league.

The key phases of the program are the Talent Identification [Combine], Skill Development Program, and the Athlete Wellbeing Program.

The PNGRFL as it finalizes the way forward in women’s rugby league, recognizes the evident key areas in terms of participation, gender specific coaching and closing the gap in terms of our athlete preparation and growth, seeing a growing concentration on building young and creating spaces and opportunities for females to participate safely and with the right teaching.

PNGRFL’s General Manager for Pathways and Performance, Tony Archer, spoke of the program being an opportunity to also bridge the gap for better athletes, between local leagues and the Santos Cup [National Women’s Competition]

“We know there are young ladies out there who want to play rugby league who are looking for an opportunity to get involved in the game. This program is one of those opportunities to identify talented girls and work with them, not just in terms of their football skill but with wellbeing education too.”

PNGRFL CEO, Stanley Hondina shared on the importance of engaging youth and seeing the development of female talent in the country in preparation for the potential expansion in coming years for the National Youth Competition.

“We are committed to building better people through our sport and that means, everyone, both girls and boys, so with the introduction of the National Youth Competition in the Under 19 male division, we are taking the steps to make this opportunity available for our young women too, through programs such as this and the important work the NRL Bid Academy are doing as well.”

“This female focus has continued to have support driven by Santos, Digicel PNG and the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program over the past several years"

The BETTER RLDP hosted the first of phase one, Talent ID Combines in NCD/Central over the 28th & 29th March at Santos National Football Stadium, seeing close to 200 young women attend over the two days for testing.

Talent ID Combines will continue across the other four centers, in East New Britain [5th April-Takubar Sports Complex], Mt Hagen [12th April-Tarangau Primary School - Mt. Hagen], Lae [19th April-Lae Rugby League Oval] and Goroka [26th April-NSI].

The Top top-performing 30 participants from each center will then be invited to go through the 8-week program.