Programs leading up to the 2017 Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) will be announced in February.
The World Cup tournament will be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand from October 27 to December 2, while Papua New Guinea will host the Kumuls’ three pool matches in Port Moresby.
PNG Kumuls will play their first pool match against Wales on October 28.
The second pool match is against Ireland on November 5 and the third match against the United States on November 12.
Sports Minister Justin Tkatchenko said 2017 is going to be a big year for rugby league especially now that PNG will be hosting the RLWC for the first time in history.
Tkatchenko said they’ll be making some official announcements for the RLWC on February 1.
The executives of the RLWC Organising Committee and PNG Rugby Football League will be announcing the major platinum sponsors and the whole program leading up to October.
Tkatchenko said PNG had a successful FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in November 2016 and they look forward to doing the same thing for rugby league this year.
“We want our people to embrace it and I’m sure the stadiums will not be big enough to hold the fans and supporters,” he said.
The RLWC in Port Moresby is sponsored by the National Government with K5m and the National Capital District Commission with K5m.
Tkatchenko once again thanked the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill and NCD Governor Powes Parkop for coming on board and supporting the bid and making it happen to host the Kumuls’ pool matches.