PNG Kumuls And Orchids To Meet Australia In Prime Minister’s XIII

 PNG Kumuls And Orchids To Meet Australia In Prime Minister’s XIII

PNG’s national rugby league teams will meet Australian opposition in Port Moresby on October 3 when the Prime Minister’s XIII returns to Santos National Football Stadium for a four-match representative program.

The day will showcase the country’s developing and established players, with the Junior Orchids and Junior Kumuls to feature before the senior women’s and men’s teams take the field.

The annual PNG-Australia fixture has grown over the years to include several levels of representative rugby league, creating opportunities for younger players to gain experience alongside the national teams.

Supporters at Santos National Football Stadium will see four matches played throughout the day.

PRIME MINISTER’S XIII FIXTURES

Junior Orchids vs Australian Schoolgirls
October 3, 2026 — 9:00am
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

Junior Kumuls vs Australian Schoolboys
October 3, 2026 — 10:30am
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

PNG Orchids vs Australian Women’s Prime Minister’s XIII
October 3, 2026 — 12:15pm
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

PNG Kumuls vs Australian Men’s Prime Minister’s XIII
October 3, 2026 — 2:05pm
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby

The opening two matches will give PNG’s junior representatives the chance to compete against Australian school teams, while the afternoon fixtures will feature the senior Orchids and Kumuls.

PNGRFL chairman Sandis Tsaka said the event remained an important sporting occasion for both countries.

“The Prime Minister’s XIII has become an important fixture for both Papua New Guinea and Australia, and we are pleased to welcome our Australian counterparts once again to Port Moresby.

“Rugby league has a unique ability to bring our two countries together, and this event gives us an opportunity to showcase the passion of our people while strengthening the connection between our two rugby league communities.

“It is also an important opportunity for our players to experience representative football at home and for our supporters to see some of the emerging talent from both countries take the field at Santos National Football Stadium.”

The junior selections will draw from PNG’s domestic competitions and established development pathways, giving young players an opportunity to experience the demands of representative football.

Hondina said the matches were part of the wider pathway designed to help players progress from domestic football into representative teams.

“The Prime Minister’s XIII is an important part of the pathway for our players because it gives them the opportunity to step into a representative environment and test themselves against quality opposition.

“We have seen players progress through our domestic competitions and pathways into the Prime Minister’s XIII, and that is something we want to continue building.

“The inclusion of our women’s and junior teams is equally important because it gives more of our players the opportunity to experience representative football and understand what is required at the next level.”

The senior Orchids and Kumuls will also use the occasion to test themselves against Australian opposition before a home crowd.

The PNG-Australia men’s contest dates back to 2005, when the first match was staged in Port Moresby. Women’s representative football was added to the program in 2017, followed by junior fixtures in 2023.

The expanded format has allowed the Prime Minister’s XIII program to provide representative opportunities across the men’s, women’s and junior levels.

PNGRFL said further announcements on the 2026 squads, coaching staff, ticketing and other arrangements would be made as the event approaches.