PNG to host 2017 Rugby League World Cup pool matches

Papua New Guinea will host a minimum of two matches at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, with the potential for further matches throughout the Pacific.

New Zealand and Australia have been named joint hosts, with the Trans-Tasman bid beating out a proposal by South Africa.

The CEO of New Zealand Rugby League, Phil Holden, says the international game grew an extra leg during last year's World Cup and spreading games round will continue that momentum.

He says as part of the their proposal, a couple of games will be played in Port Moresby.

Mr Holden says there was also discussion during the actual presentation whether there might be an opportunity to play a fixture in the South Pacific somewhere, either Fiji or Samoa but the Papua New Guinea one is locked in.