Sport in Papua New Guinea
Thursday, 1 October 2020
Played everywhere from mountain villages to island beaches and city stadiums, sport is mainstay of the Papua New Guinea lifestyle.
And while many of these sports owe their origins to western influence, Papua New Guinea has come to master them in their own right, with the island nation featuring on the international stage when It comes to big-name sporting codes like Rugby League and soccer.
Here are just some of the sports which have ballooned in popularity in PNG.
Rugby League
Known as the national sport of PNG, Rugby League is often referred to as “a replacement for tribal warfare”. League is played right across the nation, with the men’s national team ‘The Kumuls’ ranking sixth internationally in 2019.
So popular is league in PNG, it is estimated 50 per cent of the population aged under 20 play the sport. This is partly due to the fact league features on the national school curriculum, but also due to the cultural value the sport has in a country where communities are often separated by tribal heritage and rugged terrain.
Meanwhile, players who excel on the international stage go on to become household celebrities, and the annual Australian State of Origin series is the most watched TV event of the year.
Soccer
Considered the most popular sport for women in PNG, soccer was first formally established in 1962 with the formation of the Papua New Guinea Football Association.
Now it is played by approximately 20,000 people, and there are eight semi-professional teams across the country.
AFL
Up until the 1970s Australian rules football (AFL) was PNG’s most popular sport after Aussie soldiers introduced it during WWII.
In recent years its popularity has again been increasing, courtesy of PNG players like Mal Michael and James Gwilt who went on to play in Australia.
PNG’s national team ‘The Mosquitoes’ have also notched up international wins, ranking second in 2002 and 2005, then placing first in 2008.
Cricket
Rugby League might be the national game, but cricket is also widely played by men and women across the nation.
Its popularity owes much to the country’s British influence, particularly in the Papua region. The national team is known as the PNG Barramundis, and in 2019 they qualified for this year’s ICC T20 World Cup.
Rugby Union
Although PNG is yet to qualify for a world cup, the national side was ranked 85th globally in 2019 and has previously represented the nation in the Commonwealth Games.
At present the sport is played by around 8520 players across 57 recognised clubs.
Other sports
Beyond football, league, and cricket, other sports like basketball, netball and volleyball are also popular in Papua New Guinea, while the country has also notched up success in competitive sports like swimming and athletics.
PNG has sent a team to most Olympic Games since 1976, participates regularly in the Commonwealth Games and also has a presence at the Pacific Games, including hosting them in 2015.
Although the nation is yet to win an Olympic Medal, they have taken out gold at the Commonwealth Games in lawn bowls and swimming.
About Paga Hill Estate
Paga Hill Estate is a world-class, master-planned estate in the heart of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. The waterfront site is the first comprehensively planned multi-use development in Papua New Guinea to be enjoyed by both residents and visitors alike.
The all-inclusive development will include vibrant public spaces and waterfront promenade, luxury hotels, residential apartments, restaurants, retail, commercial space, a Trade, Exhibition & Cultural Centre, restoration of WWII relics, marina precinct and a nearby international cruise liner terminal.
