Building Better Communities Through Rugby League
Community Rugby League is the foundation of rugby league in Papua New Guinea — where children first discover the game, where families and communities connect, and where coaches and referees begin their development.
The PNGRFL Community Rugby League Department strengthens this foundation by supporting grassroots participation, game development, national leadership and girls’ participation — making rugby league more accessible, better organised and more connected.
Better People.
Better Sport.
Better Nation.
What Community
Rugby League Does
League, school and club support, grassroots pathways, game development and Girls in League — working together to create stronger local competitions, better coaches and officials, and a clearer pathway for participants of all abilities.
More Access. More Participation. Stronger Communities.
Grassroots Participation is about making rugby league easier to access for people across Papua New Guinea — creating more opportunities for junior boys and girls in cities, provinces and communities to play in safe, organised and age-appropriate environments.
This begins with modified formats for younger players and continues through school rugby league, community clubs, affiliated leagues and senior recreational competition.
Creating opportunities for kids and adults to play and love the game across Papua New Guinea.
A clear and structured community pathway across the Confederates and PNGNRLC club catchment areas.
Modified Games
Age-appropriate formats for younger boys and girls.
Schools Rugby League
Connecting schools to structured competitions and pathways.
Club & League Support
Helping local competitions start, strengthen and grow.
Community Pathways
Clearer progression from junior participation through to senior and elite opportunities.
- 01 Introduce accessible participation formats for children and teenagers.
- 02 Publish a clear Community Rugby League pathway from U6 through to senior club rugby league.
- 03 Strengthen club and league support.
- 04 Improve consistency in grassroots competition delivery.
- 05 Support compliant senior men's and women's competitions.
- 06 Support modified games for boys and girls aged 6–12.
- 07 Strengthen school competition opportunities for boys and girls aged 13–18.
Developing the People Who Deliver the Game
Strong community rugby league depends on capable people. The Department leads training, education and accreditation programs that help volunteers, clubs, schools, coaches, referees and sports trainers improve their skills and provide better experiences for players.
Game Development is more than technical knowledge — it is about safer environments, higher standards, greater confidence and giving the people who deliver rugby league the tools they need to succeed.
Guide the development of coaches, referees and sports trainers through targeted education, accreditation and mentoring programs.
An internationally recognised training and accreditation framework for community rugby league clubs, schools, coaches, referees and sports trainers.
Coaching
Education, accreditation, mentoring and ongoing development.
Refereeing
Training and pathways for referees and match officials.
Sports Trainers
Accreditation and practical support for player safety and welfare.
Learning & Resources
Curriculum, development resources and digital learning support.
- 01 Grassroots accreditation frameworks for coaches, referees and sports trainers.
- 02 Game development education curriculum and resources.
- 03 Community Rugby League learning management systems and digital learning.
- 04 Talent development opportunities for grassroots community coaches.
- 05 Referee development and academy-style support.
- 06 A growing network of accredited personnel supporting community rugby league.
One National Framework for the Community Game
PNGRFL takes responsibility for the development of community rugby league at a national level — ensuring communities, leagues, schools and clubs are supported by consistent frameworks, resources, systems and people.
Through partnerships with Confederates, provinces, clubs, schools and local leagues, PNGRFL is creating a stronger national network to improve access, grow participation and lift standards.
Develop a national network of resources, expertise and infrastructure to help community rugby league consolidate and grow across Papua New Guinea.
Confederates and PNGNRLC clubs have local support and resources to improve access to the game, grow participation and enhance the standard of community rugby league.
MySideline
Supporting registration and competition administration across the CRL network.
Build Better People
Using rugby league to support belonging, life skills and positive social outcomes.
Monitoring & Evaluation
Measuring participation, development and program impact.
Grassroots Infrastructure
Improving the environments where community rugby league is delivered.
Partnerships
Strengthening relationships with Associate and Affiliate leagues.
People & Recognition
Supporting staff, ambassadors and volunteers across the national game.
National leadership also creates an important connection between local participation and the broader PNGRFL pathway.
By strengthening administration, data, local support and national standards, Community Rugby League can better identify participants, support clubs and connect talented players with development opportunities.
Equal Opportunity to Play, Develop and Love the Game
Girls in League is PNGRFL's dedicated community program for increasing participation and opportunity for girls and women — providing leadership, resources and targeted support so girls have equal opportunities to play, develop and enjoy the game.
The aim is a system where female participation is supported from junior modified formats through senior club environments and onward into the national women's pathway.
Creating more opportunities for girls and women to play and love rugby league from U6s through to senior club environments.
A community rugby league system where females have equal opportunity and dedicated support across the Confederates and PNGNRLC clubs of Papua New Guinea.
- 01 Dedicated Girls in League leadership and staffing.
- 02 Greater access to community and provincial women's competitions.
- 03 Better national data on women's participation and competitions.
- 04 Annual gala days, pop-up events and skills festivals.
- 05 Dedicated support across the Confederates.
- 06 Promotion of girls' and women's participation in rugby league.
Find What
You Need
Practical pages for leagues, schools, coaches, officials and administrators — all connected to the Community Rugby League landing page.
Where the National
Pathway Begins
Community Rugby League gives players their first experiences in the game, builds the local competitions they need to develop and creates the network of coaches, referees, trainers and volunteers that supports their journey.
For those who simply want to enjoy rugby league, it provides lifelong participation. For talented young players, it is the first connection to structured development and elite pathways.
- 01 Schools & Community Rugby League Community Rugby League
- 02 Affiliated League / Club Community Rugby League
- 03 PNGRFL Academy Academy
- 04 National Youth Competition National Competition
- 05 Digicel ExxonMobil Cup National Competition
- 06 PNG Hunters / Junior Kumuls / PNG Kumuls Elite
- 01 Girls in League / Schools & Community Community Rugby League
- 02 Affiliated League / Club Community Rugby League
- 03 PNGRFL Academy Academy
- 04 Santos Cup National Competition
- 05 Junior Orchids / PNG Orchids Elite
More Than
Participation Numbers
Community Rugby League is about creating active communities, building stronger connections with Papua New Guinea’s national sport and providing better opportunities for people to play, learn, lead and belong.
By strengthening grassroots participation, developing the people who deliver the game, providing national leadership and creating greater opportunities for girls and women, PNGRFL is building a stronger foundation for the future of rugby league.
The Game Starts Here.
Better People.
Better Sport.
Better Nation.