The National Capital District Rugby Union, Nou Asigau recently announced the dissolution of the competition, informing the PNG Rugby Football Union [PNGRU] President Paul Siwi of their immediate dissolution through a letter earlier this month following the association’s inability to comply with requirements set by the Body. In the letter, Asigau advised that as of the 30th of May last month, the NCDRU under the PNGRU will no longer continue to run as a competition. “The past three years has found clubs within the Association struggle both financially and with player numbers.” Asigau said when the nominations to participate in the 2023 season was announced, only two clubs responded. To which he added that this clearly did not satisfy the requirements as an Association for a minimum four (4) clubs under the PNGRU Constitution Clause 10.2.1. “The non-payment of annual subscription (Clause 10.3.5) by NCDRU for membership in PNGRU also leaves us to conclude that the Association does not have the financial capacity nor the playing population to conduct a competition.” Mr. Asigau added that the dissolution of NCDRU is perhaps a blessing in disguise allowing the game to be unified in the capital city and there should be no desire by PNGRU to introduce another association to destabilize the competition but instead satisfy the purpose of its institution as PNGRU to strengthen the code and the Provincial Union in the capital city. C RU President Kori Chan when advised of the dissolution said CRU is willing to immediately welcome players for the remainder of its season affected by this decision. “Clubs from CRU can accept these players for the remainder of the 2023 season,” Chan said. “Those NCDRU clubs wishing to join CRU will however wait until the end of the 2023 season to apply for admission as per the CRU process and procedures.” He said with more clubs joining CRU, consideration of an expanded program that it has developed in anticipation of an eventual merger and uniformed competition which is based on a tiered competition structure will be actioned.