Papua New Guinea Rugby Union Loses Membership in PNGOC
The Papua New Guinea Olympic Committee (PNGOC) has officially suspended the membership of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Union (PNGRU). The decision was made following a board meeting held in October, in response to serious concerns surrounding the administration, governance, and compliance of PNGRU, including their recent suspension by Oceania Rugby.
The suspension comes after PNGRU failed to address issues raised in a show cause notice issued by PNGOC on July 15, 2024. The notice, related to PNGRU's withdrawal from the Monaco Olympic Qualifiers, requested a response by July 22, 2024, which was not provided. Furthermore, Oceania Rugby suspended PNGRU on September 5, 2024, reinforcing the non-compliance concerns.
As a result of the suspension, PNGRU loses key privileges such as voting rights, access to funding, and the ability to participate in Team PNG activities or PNGOC-sanctioned events. The suspension remains in place until PNGRU resolves its compliance issues with Oceania Rugby and follows the necessary directives.
To regain its membership, PNGRU must work towards reinstatement with both Oceania Rugby and World Rugby. This will involve developing an action plan to address governance and administrative shortcomings, as well as submitting to audits for compliance requirements for the years 2023 and 2024.
PNGOC President, Emma Waiwai, OL, stressed the importance of strong governance for sporting success. She urged PNGRU to take immediate action to resolve its issues and restore trust with stakeholders. PNGOC reiterated its commitment to sports development in Papua New Guinea and called on PNGRU to implement the required reforms for the benefit of the sport and its athletes.
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