The first-ever board members of the PNG franchise are Dib (chairman), Lorna McPherson, Richard Pegum, Stan Joyce, Wapu Sonk, Ian Tarutia and Marcus Bai. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister, PNG
Rugby league
A new chief executive has been appointed for Papua New Guinea's franchise to enter Australia's NRL.
The Australian Rugby League Commission has announced the appointment of Lorna McPherson as CEO of the PNG Chiefs.
The franchise is due to enter the NRL in 2028.
McPherson has an extensive business background in the region, and as an administrator in the sport in PNG, having been director of the PNG Rugby Football League.
Cricket
Papua New Guinea's campaign to qualify for this year's women's Twenty20 cricket World Cup begins in earnest on Sunday.
The Lewas play Ireland in their opening match at the global qualifier in Nepal.
They then face Bangladesh on Tuesday, Namibia next Saturday, and the USA on Monday, 26 January.
The top three teams in each group at the qualifier will advance to the 'super sixes'.
The six teams will then face each other in a round-robin format to earn a top-four position and World Cup qualification.
Football
Australia's under-17 football team kicks off its Pacific tour in Lautoka, Fiji, on Saturday.
The opening match will see the Joeys play against the Fiji Under-19 side, at Churchill Park.
The Australian youngsters will then play two games against Solomon Islands' under-19 team, in Honiara on Tuesday and again next Saturday, 24 January.
Athletics
Cook Islands will have a new athletics track at the National Stadium in Rarotonga, in time for the 2029 Pacific Mini Games.
Cook Islands News reported Athletics Cook Islands had received the Global Aim Beyond Grant, a global initiative by the Qatar Olympic Committee and World Athletics.
Athletics Cook Islands president Simone Fe'ao said the grant is a monumental step for athletics and all sports in the Cook Islands.
He said they will be able to reconstruct the track with the money.
