Mr Paul Siwi, founder and former President and Team Manager of Unitech Greyhounds Rugby Union team and current Chairman and President for NCD Greyhounds team has been nominated today by PNG Rugby Union as the President for PNG Rugby Union.
The Rugby Union Interim Board hosted its’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) today via zoom at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby where Mr Siwi was announced as the successful candidate for the PNGRU President position.
Also, during the AGM, NCD RU nominated about 9 candidates to take up various posts in the PNG Rugby Board and out of the 9 nominees, 7 were successfully voted in to the PNG Rugby Board.
This is the first time ever for PNG Rugby Board to have 7 Papua New Guineans on the board.
This has come about as a result of the backing of the Provincial Unions who have the shared goal to bring rugby back to its former glory.
Out of the 17 provincial unions, 11 provincial unions voted for changes in the board which included the voting of the new President for PNG Rugby Union, Mr Paul Siwi.
Newly elected President for PNG Rugby Union Mr Siwi said he is thankful for every one that believed in him and voted him as the president.
“I thank the 10 provincial unions who travelled in from other provinces to be part of the AGM today.”
“Their votes and collective desires will establish rugby again and this team will work together to put plans and strategies together into organising rugby going forward for the balance of this year and next year as well as the remaining term,” Mr Siwi stated.
At the same time, Mr Nou Asigau President for NCD Rugby Union announced the nomination of the new PNG Rugby Union Patron – NCD Governor Hon. Pawes Parkop.
Mr Asigau said with the appointment of Mr Paul Siwi and Governor Pawes Parkop, PNGRU is looking forward to restoring Rugby to its’ former glory.
“Rugby has a history in PNG but it has slowly withered because of administration issues and also the global trends played a part on how we manage the games in the country,” said NCDRU President Mr Asigau.
“We are trying to build stability in the game again so that the game can self-sustain itself in the country and with the nominations of the new president, patron and the 7 other adjectives we are looking at restoring rugby,” Mr Asigau said.