The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) yesterday launched its inaugural Gender Strategy, believed to be the first of its kind by a national rugby league federation worldwide, marking a significant milestone for sport and gender equality in Papua New Guinea.
The strategy was officially launched at the Stanley Hotel and sets out a comprehensive framework to advance gender equality in rugby league by creating an inclusive, safe and empowering environment that enables women, men, girls and boys to participate and lead at all levels of the game.
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The development of the strategy was supported by the Australian Government through the PNG Rugby League Pathways Development Program, which works in partnership with PNG rugby league stakeholders to strengthen pathways for young women’s and men’s participation and high performance in the sport.
Developed through nationwide consultation with people playing, coaching and working in rugby league, the strategy emerged from a collaborative design process involving PNGRFL, the PNG NRL Academy and staff from the PNG Rugby League Pathways Development Program.
It aligns with PNGRFL’s vision of “Better People, Better Sport, Better Nation.”
The strategy outlines practical actions for rugby league stakeholders to drive progress for women and girls across four key areas: participation, including coaching; leadership; visibility, including media coverage; and the creation of safe and respectful environments.
Announcing the strategy ahead of a bumper year for women’s rugby league programs and competitions in 2026, including Papua New Guinea hosting World Cup matches, PNGRFL Chief Executive Officer Stanley Hondina said the initiative would sharpen the organization’s focus and impact.
“In recent years PNGRFL has been prioritizing rugby league for women and girls as part of our overall strategy, and this document will guide us in focusing our activities and programs to have impact in a number of areas,” Mr. Hondina said.
“This is not just about encouraging more girls and women to play rugby league, but it reflects our ambition to have more women in positions of leadership and decision-making, in off-field roles such as coaching and refereeing, our desire to amplify positive media coverage of women in rugby league and to make our sport safer and more welcoming.”
Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, welcomed the launch and reaffirmed Australia’s support for the initiative.
“The Australian Government is delighted to support this significant milestone for rugby league in PNG,” he said. “Having a structured framework for creating more inclusive, safer and more empowering rugby league environments for women and girls will have far-reaching impacts on the nation and is an important step on PNG’s journey to having an NRLW franchise in the future.”
National women’s representative and Santos PNG Orchid #13, Carol Humeu who is now also a Game Development Officer at NRL PNG and has represented Papua New Guinea at the last two World Cups, said the strategy was an encouraging sign for future generations.
“I am encouraged that our up-and-coming players, both female and male, will be supported to equally participate in our national sport of rugby league,” Ms. Humeu said.
“I have witnessed so much change and improvement since I began playing rugby league in 2012, and I believe the activities in this strategy will help to progress gender equality in and through rugby league even more.”
Mt Hagen Eagles Women’s Head Coach and 2025 Santos Cup Coach of the Year, Regila Wilfred, described the strategy as a major step forward, particularly for women’s rugby league in the Highlands.
“It is a huge step forward that PNG rugby league now has a detailed strategy for making the sport a better and safer place for women and girls,” Ms Wilfred said.
“In the Highlands it has been a long journey to build a professional rugby league environment for our women, and this strategy will help us build further on what we have achieved so far and create opportunities for more women in other regions as leaders, coaches and players.”
PNGRFL is believed to be the first rugby league national federation globally to develop such a detailed gender equality framework, and the first sporting organization in Papua New Guinea to do so, positioning the country as a leader in gender equality in sport across the Pacific region.