Major telecommunications company Digicel PNG has renewed it’s naming rights sponsorship of the country’s premier rugby league competition – Digicel Cup- for a further two years to 2022.
Digicel (PNG) Senior Vice President Lorna McPherson said the company exercised it’s option to renew this sponsorship for 2021 and 2022 after the initial three year term was up at the end of the 2020 season.
“Digicel has been proudly supporting PNGs premier professional rugby league competition since 2011 and in 2017 renewed it for another three years which ended last year,” Lorna said. “We are happy to announce that we will continue this support for a further two years starting this year.”
She commended the PNG National Rugby League Competition Chairman Adrian Chow, former Manager Stanley Hondina and the Board and all the Franchises and their sponsors for the high standard of management and quality of rugby league games displayed over the years.
PNGNRLC Chairman Adrian Chow said the confidence shown by Digicel PNG in continuing its support to our premier domestic competition is ‘pleasing and overwhelming’ for all our stakeholders and people.
“Despite the ongoing uncertainties due to the global pandemic, Digicel PNG has given it’s unconditional support to the competition and we are overwhelmed and pleased for this show of confidence,” Chow said.
He said a new Manager is expected to be appointed soon.
Former PNGNRLC manager and current PNGRFL CEO Stanley Hondina said the PNGNRLC was awaiting approval from the Pandemic Controller’s Office to kick start the 2021 season.
“We are preparing and refreshing the Franchises of the Banis Protocols implemented last year so that when the approval is granted, the Digicel Cup competition will be set to kick off,” Hondina said.
He said the Digicel Cup has become synonymous with every PNG child and adult since 2011.
“On behalf of the PNGRFL and PNGNRLC Boards, 12 Franchise management, staff and players and wider rugby league family throughout PNG, we are grateful Digicel PNG for continuing this support until 2022,” Hondina
said.