Its the PNG Chiefs ! New NRL Team Officially Named
- 8 hours ago
- 1 min read
What’s new
The franchise will be known as the PNG Chiefs. theguardian.com+2National Rugby League+2
The announcement was made by James Marape (Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea) before a crowd at the Santos National Stadium. National Rugby League+1
Two names were short-listed for the team: “Chiefs” and “Pythons”. “Chiefs” was selected after a public competition that received more than 20,000 submissions. theguardian.com+1
The franchise is planned to join the National Rugby League (NRL) in the 2028 season. National Rugby League+1
🌍 Significance & rationale
The name “Chiefs” was chosen because of its cultural resonance: Papua New Guinea is made up of around 1,000 tribes and over 850 languages, and historically tribal chiefs (men and women) played leadership roles. Marape said the name reflects that heritage. pmnec.gov.pg+1
The name is seen as a unifying symbol for the nation: the team is intended to draw players from across the country and represent national identity. National Rugby League+1
🎯 What’s next / further details
The team’s logo, colours and full branding are yet to be finalised. National Rugby League+1
The board of the franchise has been established (including figures such as Marcus Bai) and it will be based in Port Moresby but draw talent nationally. pmnec.gov.pg+1
There’s a strong strategic dimension: this move is part of deepening the sports, cultural and diplomatic links between PNG and Australia.
Click here for the full story...
Feel free to leave comments
Comments