Papua New Guinea's Minister for Sports and National Events says hosting matches at the Rugby League World Cup is another major step forward for the game in PNG.
The Kumuls three pool games in 2017 will be held in Port Moresby after World Cup and NRL officials signed off on PNG as a host country, alongside Australia and New Zealand.
Rugby league is the national sport in Papua New Guinea and the game has been in a rebuilding phase over the past three years, following an extended period of infighting and court battles.
The Minister for Sports and National Events, Justin Tkatchenko, says local fans can't wait to watch the Kumuls in action.
"We're hoping that we play people like American, England and France so we have a bit of variety as well as a bit of overseas flavour to our event, our pool in Port Moresby. We can play Tonga and Fiji and Samoa anytime so we want something different for our people to embrace, and also to show the rest of the world as well what we are doing in Port Moresby and promote out country at the same time so it's a win win situation."
Justin Tkatchenko says Sir Hubert Murray Stadium can hold 20,000 fans and is the first pick to host the games, with Lloyd Robson Oval and Sir John Guise Stadium also options.
He says the PNG government and city of Port Moresby are each contributing five million kina towards hosting the games.
Papua New Guinea Minister for Sports, Honourable Justin Tkatchenko, and National Capital District Governor, Honourable Powes Parkop, pose with the Rugby League World Cup. Photo: Facebook / Hon Justin Tkatchenko MP
