The NCD Governor’s Independence Nine’s Rugby League tournament has attracted close to 50 teams all around the National Capital District, Hiri-Koiari and Motu-Koita.

Governor Powes Parkop launched the tournament on Friday 18 September at the Kone Tigers Rugby League oval with a sponsorship of K200, 000 through a Corporate Funding.

Parkop said that the tournament was supposed to be part of the Independence event celebrations but due to so many other events happening during the Independence anniversary celebration week, he decided to have the tournament after Independence.

According to NCD Suburban Sports Foundation Chairman – Mr. Billy Aki, this year’s tournament has seen teams coming in from Central province, Motu-Koita villages and all across Port Moresby city, including schoolboys and development teams also participating in the tournament.

Aki highlighted that the tournament not only drew in a large number of teams but also exposed fresh young raw talents in the sport. He adds that over the last couple of days since the tournament started, he has his eyes on some of the young talents, especially between the ages of 17 and 20 years old.

He further called on the PNG Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) to come down and visit such tournaments and identify the potential talents that are free and available for any opportunity they can get with their player pathway programs.

Aki says, with the PNG Chiefs entering the NRL in 2028, it has given hope to many of these youngsters that comes from broken homes, abusive backgrounds or other underlying social issues that they have faced in life to take up rugby league, with the hope to better their lives and their future.

The tournament completes its round three games today and will head into the finals on Friday 25th and Saturday 26th September.