The Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) announced the details of its 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM), to be held in Lae, Morobe Province on Saturday 23rd March 2024. Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stanley Hondina, advised that the 9th PNGRFL AGM scheduled was the result of a decision made at the Special General Meeting of the PNGRFL held last year on 25th March 2023 in Port Moresby. PNGRFL Board Chairman Mr Sandis Tsaka said that the organization under the legal guidance of its lawyers, Bradshaw Lawyers, convened a Special General Meeting of the six 6 compliant leagues of 2022 and resolved to defer the 9th PNGRFL “Election AGM”, “to this year in the spirit of good governance”, so that more members could be able to properly affiliate and attend the PNGRFL AGM. This was after the PNGRFL membership and competitions were drastically disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic from 2019 to 2021 and the National General Elections in 2022. Tsaka added that the deferral was to allow the PNGRFL to revitalize its memberships and enable due process, guided by the PNGRFL’s constitution. This decision has been vindicated by seeing fifty (50) Affiliate and Associate Leagues meet compliance requirements for the 2023 season and are able to attend the 9th PNGRFL AGM. “From a Good Governance and International Best Practice point of view, it is important that the PNGRFL is finally able to convene its delayed AGM to maintain and ensure the integrity and stability of the PNGRFL and our national sport in general." Hondina said, the elections of the PNGRFL Board Chairman and four (4) Confederate Directors, are held once every three years. "We will be sharing information with compliant leagues of the due process of nominations and qualifications for intending candidates.” “The integrity of the election process is very important to ensure the legitimacy of the elected officials to hold office.” “The PNGRFL must at all costs protect the integrity of these processes to ensure transparency and good governance.” “I have written to the Electoral Commission to observe the election process to ensure high standards and professionalism in its conduct." The 2023 AGM sees the inclusion of Associate Leagues at this AGM and are Compliant Associate and Affiliate Presidents listed and are encouraged to contact their Regional Game Development Officer for further information.