Papua New Guinea’s rank in the new Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) World Rankings is nothing to be proud of for supporters of this league-mad nation.
It is the worst it has been for the code which is considered the national sport in the country.
PNG, which was usually in the top five in past years, has dropped out of sight and now sits at number 14, plunging three place from 11th spot out of 35 countries in the new RLIF World Rankings issued recently.
To rub salt into the wound, Samoa (4th) consolidated its position in the top four, while Fiji (7th) dropped one point from 6th spot, while PNG, with all its resource and funds being injected into the “national sport” seems to be moving in the opposite direction – down.
As the 2016 season comes into view, PNG’s rank will come under more pressure. Firstly, because PNG did not qualify to make it into the Four Nations Tournament.
The vacancy left open by the sacking of Kumul coach Mal Meninga, now the Australian Kangaroos coach, has left a big hole to fill for the PNG Rugby Football League.
The Four Nations tournament, to be played in the UK next autumn, will offer England, Australia and New Zealand the opportunity of going in to the 2017 World Cup as the number one ranked nation, a position currently held by the Kiwis.
Among the big movers are two nations who will compete in the 2016 World Cup Qualifiers – Europe; Spain who go up five places to 21 and the winners of European Championship B in 2015, Serbia, who now sit just outside the top ten.
Wales move up one place after winning the 2015 European Championship, as do Ireland, while Scandinavian nations Sweden and Denmark both move up two places.
Jamaica also go up two places to 27th after excellent performances in the recent World Cup Qualifiers – Americas, when they narrowly lost to the USA and drew with Canada, who are much higher ranked. The USA stay in 10th place after their recent qualification for RLWC2017.
The other big movers in the rankings are Malta, who also move up five places.
Full Rankings below and to keep up to date with the 2017 World Cup visit www.rlwc2017.com
1 (1) New Zealand
2 (2) Australia
3 (3) England
4 (4) Samoa
5 (5) France
6 (7) Ireland
7 (6) Fiji
8 (9) Wales
9 (8) Scotland
10 (10) USA
11 (14) Serbia
12 (12) Italy
13 (13) Canada
14 (11) PNG
15 (16) Russia
16 (15) Tonga
17 (18) Belgium
18 (23) Malta
19 (19) Germany
20 (20) Lebanon
21 (26) Spain
22 (17) Cook Islands
23 (22) Ukraine
24 (24) Greece
25 (27) Denmark
26 (21) Norway
27 (29) Jamaica
28 (25) Netherlands
29 (31) Sweden
30 (30) Czech Republic
31 (28) South Africa
33 (33) Hungary
34 (34) Latvia
35 (35) Morocco
What will it take for PNG rugby league to get back into the top four ranks and what will it take to halt PNG’s free-flow plunge?
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