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The Papua New Guinea women's national rugby union team played their first international against Fiji in 2016. They compete annually in the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship, and have not qualified for the Rugby World Cup as yet.
| Nickname | Cassowaries | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Rugby PNG | |
| Head coach | John Larry | |
| Captain | Margaret Naua | |
| ||
| World Rugby ranking | ||
| Current | 55 (as of 15 July 2024) | |
| Highest | 40 (2016) | |
| First international | ||
Fiji  37–10  Papua New Guinea(HFC Bank Stadium, Suva; 5 November 2016) | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
| Fiji 152–0 Papua New Guinea (Massey Park, Auckland; 9 July 2022) | ||
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][4]
The Palais competed at the 2018 Oceania Championships and finished last overall, Samoa and Tonga had joined the competition for the first time.[5][6]
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.[7] The 2019 tournament had to be restructured to cater for the Tongan team due to a measles outbreak in their country.[8]
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.[9] Tonga defeated PNG 36–24 and went on to meet Samoa for the repechage playoff.[10]
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.[9]
(Full internationals only, updated to 2 June 2024)
Current squad
Papua New Guinea's squad to the 2023 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.[11]
| Player | Position | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Regila Wilfred | Loose Head Prop | Tribeswomen |
| Lyanne Philimon | Loose Head Prop | Juggernauts |
| Janaya Sue Trapman | Loose Head Prop | Brisbane |
| Geua Larry | Hooker | Nova |
| Lorraine Pomat | Hooker | Nova |
| Charlyn Harman | Hooker | FNQLD |
| Shallain Kopi | Tight Head Prop | Harlequins |
| Carol Paua | Tight Head Prop | Sisters |
| Linda Wari | Tight Head Prop | Chiefs |
| Vanesa Nakas | Lock | Stallions |
| Lilly Krandem | Lock | Harlequins |
| Amenda Pakure | Lock | Stallions |
| Brenda Goro | Lock | Chiefs |
| Talitha Kunjil | Back Row | Tribeswomen |
| Marie Biyama | Back Row | Harlequins |
| Esther Gigimat | Back Row | Nova |
| Augusta Livuana | Half-back | Harlequins |
| Meli Joe | Half-back | Tribeswomen |
| Alice Alois | Half-back | Harlequins |
| Gemma Schnaubelt | Five Eight | Brisbane |
| Cynthia Peter | Five Eight | Stallions |
| Doreen Kaputin | Centre | Chiefs |
| Joan Butler | Centre | Chiefs |
| Merolyn Malt | Centre | Tribeswomen |
| Katherine Wena | Centre | Harlequins |
| Angelena Watego | Centre | Brisbane |
| Lyiannah Allen | Outside Back | Tribeswomen |
| Naomi Kelly | Outside Back | Chiefs |
| Fatima Rama | Outside Back | Nova |
| Joana Lagona | Outside Back | Juggernauts |
| Magadaline Swaki | Outside Back | Tenkiles |
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