The funeral service for former PNG Kumul, Ben Bire, will be held next Monday at 1pm at the Bomana staff college gym in Port Moresby.
Chairman of the haus krai in Port Moresby, Joe Yamason, said the funeral was supposed to take place this week but due to administrative matters, had to be deferred.
He said Bire’s body will be flown out the next day (Tuesday) to Mt. Hagen and then will go by road to Kundiawa, Chimbu.
“The Correctional Services executives will take the casket to Kundiawa where it will be received by the Simbu Provincial Government and Governor Noah Kool.
“From there, the body will be taken to Bire’s village of Dom where his tribesmen will take full control of the body.
“Bire will be laid to rest after one or two weeks to allow people to pay their respects to the former Kumul,” said Yamason.
Bire was Kumul #153 and made his debut for the PNG Kumuls against Great Britain in Port Moresby on May 31, 1992, in Port Moresby as a front rower.
He went on to play 10 Tests for PNG against all rugby league playing nations, including Australia, New Zealand and France.