Papua_new_guinea_kumuls

Papua New Guinea
Nickname	The Kumuls
Association	Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League
Region	Oceania
Head coach	Adrian Lam
Captain	Stanley Gene
Home stadium	Lloyd Robson Oval
RLIF ranking	7th
National Uniform
First international England 40 - 12 Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, PNG; 6 July 1975)
Biggest win Cook Islands 6 - 86 Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby, PNG; November 1998
Biggest defeat Australia 82 - 0 Papua New Guinea (Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville; 7 October 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	4 (First in 1988)
Best result	Quarter-finals, 2000

Rugby league in Papua New Guinea is regarded as the country’s national sport. The national side are known as the Kumuls (bird of paradise in Tok Pisin). Many Papua New Guinean players have left the country in order to pursue professional rugby league careers in Great Britain and Australia.

A team representing Papua New Guinea (generally made up of a mixture of locally based players and International Players) plays an Australian Prime Minister\'s XIII in an annual match. The Australian side consists mostly of developing players from the premier competition the National Rugby League (NRL).

The current coach of the Kumuls is former Queensland and Papua New Guinea half back Adrian Lam.

History

Rugby league was first played in Papua New Guinea in the late forties; it was introduced to the nation by Australian soldiers stationed there during and after the Second World War. Papua New Guinea were admitted to the game’s International Federation in 1974. On 6th July 1975, at Lloyd Robnson Oval, in Port Moresby the Kumuls played their first ever international. They were beaten 40-12 by England. The English team were en route to Australia and New Zealand to fulfil away fixtures during the 1975 World Cup.

They first entered the Rugby League World Cup for the 1985-89 competition, though it was not until 1995 that they were able to win away from home. In 1987 The Kumuls stage their first full test playing tour of Britain, after playing BARLA opposition in 1979. They lost the test 42-0 at Central Park, Wigan.

On Tuesday 20 October 1987, that Cumbria met Papua New Guinea before a crowd of 3,750 at the Recreation Ground, Whitehaven. Cumbria won 22-4. Four days later they played a World Cup rated Test against Great Britain.

Papua New Guinea played an exhibition match against Australia in 1988. In 1991 Papua New Guinea played host to a touring Great Britain, the series ended in a 1-1 draw.

On Sunday 27 October 1991, Papua New Guinea met Wales at Vetch Field, Swansea. Roared on by a fervent crowd of 11,422; Wales won by a record 68-0 margin, scoring thirteen tries. Papua New Guinea never recovered and lost all five matches in Britain, conceding 232 points in the process, and won only one of their four matches in France.

Papua New Guinea wound up their 1991 tour of Europe with a World Cup rated Test match against France, which was played on Sunday 24 November at the Stade Albert Domec, Carcassonne. Despite Papua New Guinea lesding 8-4 at half-time; France defeated their visitors 28-14.

In 2005 Papua New Guinea beat the Australian Prime Minister\'s XIII 24-16 in Darwin. This was the first win over any Australian based national side. In 2007 Papua New Guinea drew with Australia PM XIII 24-24.

They have been granted automatic qualification to the 2008 World Cup.

Possible 2008 World Cup Squad

• 1. Paul Aiton - Penrith Panthers
• 2. Kevin Prior - Redcliffe Dolphins
• 3. Rod Griffin - Wests Tigers
• 4. Michael Mark - Port Moresby Bulldogs
• 5. John Wilshere - Salford City Reds
• 6. Nigel Hukula - Goroka Lahanis
• 7. James Nightingale - Penrith Panthers
• 8. Makali Aizue - Hull KR
• 9. Keith Peters - Penrith Panthers
• 10. Jessie Joe - Port Moresby Bulldogs
• 11. Tu Moari - Cronulla Sharks
• 12. George Keppa - Brisbane Easts
• 13. Stanley Gene - Hull KR
• 14. Steve Franciscus - Canberra Raiders
• 15. Trevor Exton - Ipswich Jets
• 16. Menzie Yere - Kokopo Island Gurias
• 17. Gimapau Keimelo - Wiri Vele Raiders
• 18. Rodney Pora - Kokopo Island Gurias
• 19. Nicko Slain - Goroka Lahanis
• 20. Nixon Kolo - Wri Vele Raiders
• 21. Benjamin John - Port Moresby Bulldogs
• 22. Charilie Wabo - Mendi Muruks
• 23. George Moni - Mendi Muruks
• 24. Joseph Omae - Mendi Muruks
• 25. Porian Bal - Pagini Warriors

COACH Adrian Lam

Possible 2008 World Cup Squad

As of October 20, 2007:

Number	Name	DOB	Position	Club	Caps (points)
1	John Wilshere	May 5, 1978	Outside back/Fullback	Salford City Reds	32 (102)
2	Tu Moari	March 23, 1982	Centre/Wing	Cronulla Sharks	3 (8)
3	Menzie Yere	February 28, 1980	Utility Back	Island Gurias	8 (20)
4	Gimapau Keimelo	January 30, 1981	Center/Wing	Wari Vele Raiders	2 (4)
5	Michael Mark	October 22, 1982	Wing	Port Moresby Bulldogs	4 (44)
6	Jessie Joe	July 8, 1985	Five-Eight/Centre	Canterbury Bulldogs	3 (0)
7	Keith Peters(C)	January 25, 1986	Scrum Half	Penrith Panthers	5 (10)
8	Makali Aizue	May 26, 1983	Prop	Hull KR	16 (0)
9	Paul Aiton	May 29, 1985	Hooker	Penrith Panthers	10 (4)
10	Trevor Exton	November 8, 1981	Second Row/Prop	Ipswich Jets	8 (4)
11	George Moni	August 28, 1983	Second Row	Mendi Muruks	5 (0)
12	Joseph Omae	July 4, 1982	Lock/Second Row	Mendi Muruks	0 (0)
13	Rod Griffith	June 27, 1985	Loose Forward	West Tigers	7 (8)
14	Nigel Hukula	March 10, 1982	Prop	Goroka Lahanis	4 (0)
15	Stanley Gene	May 11, 1974	Utility	Hull KR	48 (110)
16	James Nightingale	September 25, 1986	Loose Forward	Penrith Panthers	7 (4)
17	Nixon Kolo	May 31, 1983	Centre	Wari Vele Raiders	3 (0)
18	Steve Franciscus	Sept 26, 1979	Prop	Canberra Raiders	5 (12)
19	George Keppa	May 29, 1985	Wing/Fullback	Northern Devils	4 (10)
20	Charlie Wabo	April 8, 1987	Utility	Mendi Muruks	3 (0)
21	Kevin Prior	April 1, 1983	Utility back	Redcliffe Dolphins	2 (0)
20	Rodney Pora	April 8, 1987	Forward Utility	Island Gurias	4 (0)
20	Benjamin John	April 8, 1987	Utility	Port Moresby Bulldogs	3 (0)

Famous players

• Marcus Bai
• Stanley Gene
• Adrian Lam
• Arnold Kerwanty
• David Westley
• John Wilshere

KUMULS Results

• France Def Papua New Guinea 22-16 Begles, France
• 2007: Papua New Guinea def France A 20-6 Villenuve, France
• 2007: France def Papua New Guinea 38 - 26 (France)
• 2007: Papua New Guinea def France A 38-12 Avignon, France
• 2007: Wales def Papua New Guinea 50-10 Bridgend , Wales
• 2007: Papua New Guinea Drew Australia PM XIII 24-24
• 2006: Australia PM XIII def. Papua New Guniea 28-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2005: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 70-22 Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
• 2004: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 32-20 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2003: Papua New Guinea def. Junior Kangaroos 24-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2003: Australia PM XIII def. Papua New Guinea 32-0 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2002: Junior Kangaroos def. PNG President XIII 28-16 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2001: New Zealand def. Papua New Guinea 38-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2001: New Zealand A def. Papua New Guinea President\'s XIII 36-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 2001: Australia PM XIII def. Papua New Guinea 32-6 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
• 2000: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 82-0 Dairy Dairmers Stadium (Townsville)
• 2000: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 22-18 Leeds, England
• 2000: Wales def. Papua New Guinea 22-8 Headingly Stadium England
• 2000: Papua New Guinea def. South Africa 16-0 Leeds, England
• 2000: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 30-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1999: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 36-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Papua New Guinea President\'s XIII def. Fiji 16-14 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 56-0 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 34-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Cook Islands 86-6 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 56-0 Sydney Cricket Ground
• 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 44-28 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1998: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 54-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1997: Papua New Guinea Prime Minister\'s XIII def. NZ Moari’s 28-20 Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (Port Moresby)
• 1996: Papua New Guinea def. Tonga 56-16 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1996: Kiwis def. Papua New Guinea 62-8 International Stadium, Rotorua
• 1995: Papua New Guinea def. France 18-16 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
• 1995: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 77-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1995: BARLA def. Papua New Guinea 28-18 Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (Port Moresby)
• 1995: Papua New Guinea drew Tonga 28-28 St James Park England
• 1993: Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 35-24 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1992: Papua New Guinea def. France 38-8 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
• 1992: France def. Papua New Guinea 28-26 Sir Hubert Murray Stadium (Port Moresby)
• 1992: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 20-14 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1991: Wales def. Papua New Guinea 68-24 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1991: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 56-4 Wigan, England
• 1990: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 40-38 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1990: Papua New Guinea def. Great Britain 20-18 Danny Leahy Oval (Goroka)
• 1987: Papua New Guinea drew France 20-20 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1988: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 42-22 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1987: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 42-0 Wigan, England
• 1984: Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 38-20 Pope John Paul II Oval (Mt Hagen)
• 1981: Papua New Guinea def. France 28-8 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1980: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 20-18 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)
• 1979: BARLA def. Papua New Guinea 42-0 Central Park, Wigan
• 1977:Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 44-4 Headingly Stadium, England
• 1976: Australia def. Papua New Guinea 49-18 Sydney Cricket Ground
• 1975:Great Britain def. Papua New Guinea 40-12 Lloyd Robson (Port Moresby)

BOLD Matches are wins

Courtesy of www.pngnrl.com.pg and PNGRFL Annual General Review

Other Papua New Guinean Teams

• PNG Prime Minister XIII - Development to comprising of local based players and only 3 international players, used to play both national and development sides.
• PNG President XIII - PNGRFL \'select\' usually playing another development side like Junior Kangaroos or New Zealand A. Rarely used to play national sides.
• PNG Residents- Papua New Guinea development side made up of solely local players. Regularly playing matches with the Junior Kangaroos, New Zealand Moaris and even national sides.
• Papua New Guinea KUNDUS - Papua New Guinea junior U18 schoolboys side.

- Recently played QLD U18 as a curtain raiser to Origin I. The QLD U/18 def. Kundus 20-16. The team is captained by Wayne Bond

Participating Tournament

• Rugby League World Cup
• Pacific Nations Cup
• Papua New Guinea 50th Independence Challenge
• Somare Cup

See also

• Rugby league in Papua New Guinea
• Emerging Nations Tournament
• World Cup

Website

http://www.pngrfl.org/

• Papua New Guinea Rugby League Fans Forums - RugbyLeague.org
• 2008 Rugby League World Cup Site

v • d • e Rugby League in Papua New Guinea
Federation	Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League
National Team	The Kumuls
Domestic Competitions	Papua New Guinea National Rugby League · Port Moresby Rugby League · SP Inter-city Cup
PNG NRL Teams Former teams	Lae Bombers · Brian Bell Bulldogs · Kunjin Eagles · Bintangor Lahanis · Enga Mioks · Mabey & Johnson Muruks · Agmark Gurias · Wari Vele Central Riders · Pagini Warriors
SP Cup Seasons	1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Former Queensland Cup Team	Port Moresby Vipers

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