THE best young rugby league players in Papua New Guinea will be on display early next month with the start of the brand-new Academy Schools Tournament.
Beginning on Monday 7 April at Santos National Football Stadium (NFS) and Goroka Institute of Sport, this new competition will bring together the best schools’ players from throughout the country to compete in a tournament that will showcase the incredible depth of talent coming through the ranks.
The tournament will feature teams competing in male year 7/8 and year 9/10 divisions, in addition to a female open schoolgirl division and will allow coaches and selectors the chance to evaluate players in a high-performance environment.
This new addition to the pathways structure aligns more closely with the best NRL clubs in creating age-group rugby league at an elite level that will prepare players to play against Australian players of the same age.
NRL Bid CEO, Andrew Hill (pictured), saw the tournament as an important addition to the current pathways structure.
“Everything that we are putting in place right now is to create a junior pathway system which enables our players the best opportunity to play at the highest level possible.
“To do that we need a strong Academy program and intense, competitive football at all age groups leading into a senior NRL squad.
“We have already seen the great talent that we have across the country, and we are now creating the environment for those players to experience the best coaching and playing opportunities, as well as learn the right habits in terms of preparation and recovery.
“I know that Academy Head Coach, Joe Grima, and the rest of our coaching staff can’t wait to see our players in action,” said Mr. Hill.
The tournament will begin on Monday 7 April at Santos Football Stadium in Port Moresby, with the full schedule below:
POOL A – SANTOS Football Stadium – POM
Monday, 7th April 2025.
• 12:00 PM – 1:10 PM: Male U15 – NCD vs. Central (Field 2)
• 1:30 PM – 2:40 PM: Male U15 – NCD vs. NGI (Field 2)
• 3:00 PM – 4:10 PM: Male U15 – NGI vs. Central (Field 2
Wednesday, 9th April 2025.
• 12:00 PM – 1:10 PM: Male U17 – NCD vs. Central (Field 2)
• 1:30 PM – 2:40 PM: Male U17 – NCD vs. NGI (Field 2)
• 3:00 PM – 4:10 PM: Male U17 – NGI vs. Central (Field 2)
Friday, 11th April 2025.
• 9:00 AM – 10:10 AM: Female U18 – NCD vs. Central (Field 2)
• 10:30 AM – 11:40 AM: Female U18 – NCD vs. NGI (Field 2)
• 12:00 PM – 1:10 PM: Female U18 – NGI vs. Central (Field 2)
Pool B matches will take place at the National Sports Institute in Goroka, following this schedule:
POOL B – National Sports Institute – GOROKA.
Monday, 7th April 2025.
• 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM: Male U15 – Lae vs. Goroka (Field 1)
• 11:30 AM – 12:40 PM: Male U15 – Lae vs. Mt. Hagen (Field 1)
• 1:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Male U15 – Mt. Hagen vs. Goroka (Field 1)
Wednesday, 9th April 2025.
• 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM: Male U17 – Lae vs. Goroka (Field 1)
• 11:30 AM – 12:40 PM: Male U17 – Lae vs. Mt. Hagen (Field 1)
• 1:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Male U17 – Mt. Hagen vs. Goroka (Field 1)
Friday, 11th April 2025.
• 10:00 AM – 11:10 AM: Female U18 – Lae vs. Goroka (Field 1)
• 11:30 AM – 12:40 PM: Female U18 – Lae vs. Mt. Hagen (Field 1)
• 1:00 PM – 2:10 PM: Female U18 – Mt. Hagen vs. Goroka (Field 1)
The tournament will culminate in the Grand Final Championships, held at Santos Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday, May 10th, 2025.
GRAND FINAL – CHAMPIONSHIPS – SANTOS Football Stadium – POM
Saturday, 10th May 2025.
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Male U15 (Field 1)
• 12:00 AM – 1:30 PM: Male U17 (Field 1)
• 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Female U18 (Field 1)
Entry is free at both locations.
The PNG NRL academy is supported by the Australian government through the PNGAUS partnership.