Papua New Guinea Rugby Union’s (PNGRU) reinstatement as a member of World Rugby depends on clearing “a longstanding debt” and addressing governance issues.
Oceania Rugby, which governs rugby unions in the region, has confirmed that PNG has been working with it and World Rugby on a roadmap aimed at getting them back into the fold.
Oceania Rugby commissioned an independent inquiry and established an Independent Judicial Panel to review PNGRU’s finances and governance in the months that followed.
Oceania Rugby general manager Frank Puletua said the ball is in PNGRU’s court.
“We’ve been in regular contact with PNGRU and World Rugby throughout this process,” he said.
“There’s a roadmap agreed by all parties, and we want to see PNGRU back in good standing as soon as they meet what’s
“Reinstatement depends on PNGRU clearing a longstanding debt and meeting governance conditions set out in the roadmap. Some details of the process will stay confidential given the sensitivities for people and organisations in PNG.”
Puletua said recent comments by PNGRU’s acting president Vincent Karawa were misleading.
Karawa told ABC two weeks ago that the union had done all it could to meet Oceania’s demands, but he said no one at the organisation was talking to PNGRU anymore, and he feared there may be other forces at play.
“Oceania Rugby wishes to correct recent media reports concerning the membership status of the Papua New Guinea Rugby Union (PNGRU), which contained inaccuracies about the process being undertaken by the regional association,” Puletua said.
“World Rugby joined Oceania Rugby in November 2025 to help build an in-country solution.
“For the past eight months the two bodies have worked directly with local stakeholders in PNG on a structured pathway back to good standing. PNGRU has been part of that process throughout and has signed off on the roadmap now in place.”
Since PNGRU’s expulsion from World Rugby, PNG has not been able to participate in any international rugby event.
Concerns have also been raised locally that the suspension could see players leaving rugby union for rugby league, especially now with the funding directed to the professional code by the Australian government, backing the establishment of an NRL franchise, the PNG Chiefs.
PNGRU still hold local competition around the country, while it awaits its fate with World Rugby.
