Photo: © NRL Photos
PNG rugby league team aims to bounce back; Fiji beat PNG in opening match; and study reveals funding disparity in rugby
Orchids' heads held high after World Cup defeat
The PNG Orchids' coach says his team will still have belief in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final, despite a heavy loss to England.
PNG scored first in its final group game held in the city of Leeds, but England went on to win 42-4.
Despite the defeat the Orchids are already into the semifinals, thanks to wins over Canada and Brazil, and are now likely to play New Zealand for a place in the final.
PNG coach Ben Jeffries said his team will be ready for that challenge.
"We started really well, but we just couldn't get into field position, they played really well, credit to England, they played really well, controlled the ball, controlled the game, controlled the ruck, so we got a lesson tonight.
"But these girls should be proud of what they have done so far, but we have to turn around in the next five or six days and get ready for our semi-final."
PNG footballers shocked by Fiji
In football, Fiji has avenged their Oceania Nations Cup final loss to Papua New Guinea with a victory in a women's four-nations tournament in Australia.
Goals from Cema Nasau and Luisa Tamanitoakula earned the Fijian Kulas a 2-nil victory over PNG.
PNG is hoping to use this tournament as preparation for the World Cup play-offs beng held in New Zealand in February where it faces Panama in its first match.
In the other match yesterday, Jemima David's goal for the Solomon Islands could not prevent a 2-1 defeat to the Australian Under-20 side.
Fiji now meets the Young Matildas on Friday evening local time, while Solomon Islands take on PNG that morning.
Women's rugby losing out on funding
A recent study from a Pacific Regional Sports Scholarships recipient shows women's rugby receives less funding compared to men's, and bridging this gap could reap huge benefits for women in sport and society.
ONOC Media reports the research was part of a Master's in Arts by Kuini Vuli, who studied the wellbeing of female rugby players and the social stigma women face in rugby in Fiji.
Vuli said the findings would lead to a lot of awareness of women in rugby and of women in sports in general.