The PNG Rugby Football League Southern Confederation has kick-started trials for the National Zone Championships.
The women’s trials started on Wednesday, August 1, and will end today where 20 women will be selected to represent the Southern zone.
It was a perfect Port Moresby day when both seasoned and first timers took to the field at the National Football Stadium for the Southern women’s division trials.
The director of the Southern Confederation, Gwaibo Mairi, said the women’s division were included in the competition only 5 years ago and since then, Port Moresby teams dominated the trials until this year, where 4 rural teams showed interest. And they are: Kerema, Hiri West, Central Provincial League and Koiari.
Women from the Central and Gulf provinces, despite being newcomers on the scene, bravely took on the more seasoned Port Moresby teams, especially Moresby South Rugby League (MSRL) and Port Moresby Rugby League.
Surprisingly, two tertiary institutions within the capital decided to make their presence known for the first time.
The University of PNG Rugby Football League women decided to join forces with the Port Moresby Business College under the name: Tertiary Institution Pearls.
Despite a lack of support and study commitments, the girls expressed a keen interest in the sport and hoped to see more of their colleagues join in.
Meantime, the U20 trials will run from Friday to Saturday, then the Senior men’s division will continue from Sunday to Tuesday.
