The Papua New Guinea women's national rugby union team played their first international against Fiji in 2016. They compete annually in the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship, and have not qualified for the Rugby World Cup as yet.
History
Papua New Guinea played their first international test match at the inaugural 2016 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship against Fiji. The tournament was also part of the qualifying process for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup. Fiji won the match 37–10 and progressed to the Repechage tournament.
The Palais competed at the 2018 Oceania Championships and finished last overall, Samoa and Tonga had joined the competition for the first time.
At the 2019 Oceania Championships in Fiji, the Palais played Samoa and a Black Ferns Development XV's team. They also played a consolation match against a Fijiana Development XV's team because the main team would be playing in a qualifier against Samoa for the 2021 Rugby World Cup. The 2019 tournament had to be restructured to cater for the Tongan team due to a measles outbreak in their country.
In 2020 Papua New Guinea hosted Tonga at Port Moresby in a repechage qualifier for the 2021 World Cup. It was the first women's test match to be played in the country. Tonga defeated PNG 36–24 and went on to meet Samoa for the repechage playoff.
Nickname change Papua New Guinea changed their nickname from Palais, which is Tok Pisin for lizard, to Cassowaries because of sponsorship restrictions. The nickname comes from the Cassowary, a flightless bird that is regarded as the world's most dangerous bird.
On 6 September 2024, it was announced that Rugby PNG was suspended from Oceania Rugby, the team will not be able to pariticpate in any regional, Oceania or international competitions until their suspension is lifted.
Results summary
(Full internationals only, updated to 2 June 2024) + Papua New Guinea Internationals From 2016 Opponent First Match Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Win % 2016 5 0 0 5 16 447 0.00% 2018 4 0 0 4 57 295 0.00% 2018 5 0 0 5 84 275 0.00% Summary 14 0 0 14 157 1,017 0.00%
Squad Recent squad Papua New Guinea's squad to the 2023 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship. Player Position Club Regila Wilfred Loose Head PropTribeswomenLyanne PhilimonLoose Head PropJuggernautsJanaya Sue TrapmanLoose Head PropBrisbaneGeua LarryHookerNovaLorraine PomatHookerNovaCharlyn HarmanHookerFNQLDShallain KopiTight Head PropHarlequinsCarol PauaTight Head PropSistersLinda WariTight Head PropChiefsVanesa NakasLockStallionsLilly KrandemLockHarlequinsAmenda PakureLockStallionsBrenda GoroLockChiefsTalitha KunjilBack RowTribeswomenMarie BiyamaBack RowHarlequinsEsther GigimatBack RowNovaAugusta LivuanaHalf-backHarlequinsMeli JoeHalf-backTribeswomenAlice AloisHalf-backHarlequinsGemma SchnaubeltFive EightBrisbaneCynthia PeterFive EightStallionsDoreen KaputinCentreChiefsJoan ButlerCentreChiefsMerolyn MaltCentreTribeswomenKatherine WenaCentreHarlequinsAngelena WategoCentreBrisbaneLyiannah AllenOutside BackTribeswomenNaomi KellyOutside BackChiefsFatima RamaOutside BackNovaJoana LagonaOutside BackJuggernautsMagadaline SwakiOutside BackTenkiles
See also Papua New Guinea women's national rugby sevens team Oceania Rugby Women's Championship
References
External links Papua New Guinea on IRB.com Papua New Guinea on Rugbydata.com