Papua New Guinea women's national rugby union team

The Papua New Guinea national rugby union team represent Papua New Guinea in the sport of rugby union. They played their first international in 2016. Papua New Guinea has not qualified for the Rugby World Cup as yet.

For the men's team, see Papua New Guinea national rugby union team. For the women's sevens team, see Papua New Guinea women's national rugby sevens team. For the women's rugby league team, see Papua New Guinea women's national rugby league team.
Papua New Guinea
Nickname(s)Cassowaries
UnionRugby PNG
Head coachJohn Pangkatana
CaptainMargaret Naua
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current42 (as of 23 November 2020)
First international
 Fiji 37–10 Papua New Guinea 
(Suva, Fiji; 5 November 2016)
Biggest defeat
 Fiji 96–0 Papua New Guinea 
(Suva, Fiji; 20 November 2018)

History
See also: Rugby union in Papua New Guinea
See also: Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship

Papua New Guinea played their first international test match at the inaugural 2016 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship against Fiji. The tournament was also part of the qualifying process for the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup.[1][2] Fiji won the match 37–10 and progressed to the Repechage tournament.[3]

The Palais competed at the 2018 Oceania Championships and finished last overall, Samoa and Tonga had joined the competition for the first time.[4][5]

At the 2019 Oceania Championships in Fiji, the Palais played Samoa and a Black Ferns Development XV's team. They also played a consolation match against a Fijiana Development XV's team because the main team would be playing in a qualifier against Samoa for the 2021 Rugby World Cup.[6] The 2019 tournament had to be restructured to cater for the Tongan team due to a measles outbreak in their country.[7]

In 2020 Papua New Guinea hosted Tonga at Port Moresby in a repechage qualifier for the 2021 World Cup. It was the first women's test match to be played in the country.[8] Tonga defeated PNG 36–24 and went on to meet Samoa for the repechage playoff.[9]

Nickname change

Papua New Guinea changed their nickname from Palais, which is Tok Pisin for lizard, to Cassowaries because of sponsorship restrictions. The nickname comes from the Cassowary, a flightless bird that is regarded as the world’s most dangerous bird.[8]

Results

See Women's international rugby for information about the status of international games and match numbering

Overall record

Summary of all full international matches:

OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLost% Won
 Fiji201620020%
 Samoa201820020%
 Tonga201820020%
Summary201660060%

Full internationals
[1161] 2016-11-05 (WCQ)
Fiji  37–10  Papua New Guinea
ANZ Stadium, Suva
[3/1/1]

[1276] 2018-11-16 (OC)
Papua New Guinea  45–56  Samoa
Churchill Park, Lautoka
[2/24/1]

[1285] 2018-11-20 (OC)
Fiji  96–0  Papua New Guinea
Churchill Park, Lautoka
[7/3/2]

[1286] 2018-11-24 (OC)
Tonga  62–26  Papua New Guinea
Churchill Park, Lautoka
[5/4/1]

[1343] 2019-11-18 (OC)
Samoa  65–12  Papua New Guinea
Churchill Park, Lautoka
[29/5/4]

1 March 2020 (WCQ)
Papua New Guinea  24–36  Tonga

Other internationals
26 November 2019 (OC)
Black Ferns Dev XV  131–0  Papua New Guinea
Churchill Park, Lautoka
30 November 2019 (OC)
Fijiana Dev XV  40–22  Papua New Guinea
Churchill Park, Lautoka

Squad

Previous squads

Papua New Guinea's Line-up to 2017 Oceanic qualification to World Cup:[10]

  1. Pamela Waringe
  2. Jane Buku
  3. Norah Wartovo
  4. Isi Govea
  5. Clara Biyamah
  6. Melanie Kawa
  7. Lynette Kwarula*
  8. Debbie Kaore*
  9. Victoria Kamen
  10. Margaret Naua (c)
  11. Nina Stein
  12. Kymlie Rapilla*
  13. Marlugu Dixon*
  14. Cassandra Sampson*
  15. Joanne Lagona*
  16. Lorraine Pomat
  17. Geua Larry*
  18. Tracy Stains
  19. Harkana Dixon*
  20. Theresanne Daimol*
  21. Angela Parao
  22. Helen Abau*
  23. Augusta Livuana*

(*Also selected for PNG’s sevens squad)

See also

References
  1. Deo, Rohit (2016-09-13). "Fiji to host Oceania Rugby Womens Championship". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  2. "Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union » Women's RWC qualification at Stake in Inaugural Oceania Championship". www.fijirugby.com. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  3. Birch, John (2016-11-06). "Fijiana become first Oceania champions". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  4. "Sport: Fijiana 15s women expecting tough title defence". RNZ. 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  5. "Fiji win Oceania Rugby Women's Championship title". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2018-11-24. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2021-11-29.
  6. Birch, John (19 November 2019). "Fiji qualify for World Cup". Scrum Queens. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020.
  7. "Oceania-qualification for women's Rugby World Cup revised". Loop. 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019.
  8. "Proud Cassowaries ready for historic test". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  9. "Tonga keep RWC 2021 dream alive". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2020-03-01. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  10. Birch, John (2016-10-29). "Suva game to make test history". Scrum Queens. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
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