Women's sports milestones in Papua New Guinea and Oceania

The Gas Resources Central Dabaris Women have been named the minor premiers of the 2026 Santos Cup following an eight-week competition. In a historic moment for women’s rugby league in Papua New Guinea, the team was awarded the inaugural Ruth Waram Minor Premiership Shield, named after the first Chairlady of the Santos PNG Orchids.

The Dabaris Women are scheduled to face the Bintangor Goroka Lahanis Women in the Santos Cup semi-finals next week.

In Oceania football, the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship is set to begin in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Eight nations, including New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea, will compete for the continental title and a pathway to the 2027 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco. The host nation, Solomon Islands, enters the tournament following a recent friendly victory over their own senior women’s national team.