Rugby League World Cup - PNG vs Ireland

Today's game meant another early start for Europe-based fans and those watching live would have experienced a much more nail-biting affair than PNGs previous game.

Rugby League World Cup 2017 - PNG Vs Wales

Photo: NRL Photos

The Rugby League World Cup 2017 began with a bang for the Papua New Guinea team last Saturday. As co-hosts of the tournament, Kumuls fans settled into the National Football Stadium with a great deal of anticipation. Previous meetings against their opponents Wales had not been promising, but with many of their side having achieved great things in the NRL and a home advantage they were aware that the odds were different this time.

Rugby League World Cup - November 2013

Back in early 2013, we heard the great news that the Rugby League World Cup was coming to our local stadium. Then we found that the match was to be New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea and I jumped at the opportunity to take up the flag of my cousin's birthplace and wave it as if it were my own.

Headingley stadium is home to (amongst other teams) Leeds Rhinos and their fans were out in force on the Friday in early November when we went to watch the game. I'm not sure if it was the British "fair play" attitude of supporting the underdog, or the fact that PNG player Paul Aiton had just signed for the Rhinos that meant that the crowds were firmly behind the Kumuls that evening.

Before the game.

As we walked to the ground I proudly wore my flag on my shoulders, sweeping up the street with a flag (temporarily) tattooed on my cheek. In the stadium I saw song sheets being distributed and a few PNG scarves but it wasn't until the game was underway did the extend of the support become apparent. The chant going round the ground was "Oh Papua New Guinea" to the tune of the bass line from "Seven Nation Army" by the White Stripes. At times it filled the stadium and there would have been no doubt in the PNG players' minds that we were behind them all the way.

Paul Aiton with the ball from the YEP match report.

Photo: Steve Riding

Despite the home crowd's support, PNG's first half was pretty poor against the might of the All Blacks, and by half time the score was a painful 40-0. When they returned to cheers for the second half however, the Papua New Guineans were determined not to lie down and fought hard to achieve 10 points that received spine-tingling roars from the fans. The game ended 56-10 but that second half was well worth the wait!

Three more PNG fans here!

Visit the Rugby League World Cup website to read the match report.

What's in a name?

Like the All Blacks, the British Lions and the Springboks, the Papua New Guinea rugby teams have nicknames. The Rugby League teams are called "The Kumuls" after the bird of paradise that graces the PNG flag. The bird can be also seen on the team's badge.

The Rugby Union teams (including my much loved Sevens side) are nicknamed "The Pukpuks" which is the Tok Pisin word for crocodile. Their mascot animal appears on the team's badge as well.

Cricket is another huge sport in PNG and the nickname of their main team is the Barramundis, however unlike the teams above, the barramundi fish isn't on the cricketing logo. Instead it's a lovely stylised kumul bird of paradise blended with a cricket ball knocking the bails of three stumps.

Other teams have animal-based nicknames too, the Football (Soccer) team nickname is "The Kapuls" which is a type of possum and the Australian Rules team is called "The Binatangs". As binatang means mosquito in Tok Pisin, they are also called "The Mozzies".

Have I got all these right? Have I missed any? Let me know in the comments section below.