Papua New Guinea’s national oil and gas company, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (Kumul Petroleum) has recently announced a sponsorship funding of K10 million for the PNG Rugby Union (PNGRU) for the next three years from 2022 through to 2024.
This sponsorship provides Kumul Petroleum with the naming rights for all PNGRU sanctioned events and competitions over this period and includes branding of tournament uniforms, on-field signage, ticketing and other related documentation.
Managing Director of Kumul Petroleum Wapu Sonk said they are pleased to announce financial support for this sporting code.
“For many years this code has suffered and declined because of various reasons with the key ones being lack of sponsorship, infighting between different people at the PNGRU Board, regional centers and or provincial union affiliates and so on,” Mr Sonk said.
“Kumul Petroleum was approached with a new vision, new president in Paul Siwi which was an outcome of a united PNGRU election process and we are sponsoring the vision that is in the Strategic Plan 2021 to 2026.”
The Strategic Plan outlines the frameworks, playing calendar, and development plans in how to grow the game from grassroots level up and achieving the objective of ensuring every Papua New Guinea can enjoy the game of Rugby.
Mr Sonk further added that whilst they are happy to sponsor, Kumul Petroleum will expect results on and off the field of Rugby and that includes good governance practices in how the funds are managed and applied.
“As with similar sponsorship arrangements, the agreed annual payments are subject to meeting the sponsorship conditions outlined in the MOU signed between Kumul Petroleum and PNG Rugby Union”.