Reatau Rau, the new CEO of the PNG Rugby Football League (Post Courier 03/01/17)

left PNGRFL Chairman Sandis Taska and newly appointed PNGRFL CEO Reatau Rau

By FIDELIS SUKINA

After 25 applications to Vanguard International from 17 expatriates and eight Papua New Guineans, Reatau Rau Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and Papua New Guinea National Rugby League (PNGNRL) Treasurer was appointed CEO of PNGRFL.

Rau was one of the final five applicants (three expatriates and two nationals) put forth to the selection sub-committee tasked by the PNGRFL Board and HR recruitment firm Vanguard International to screen and interview.

Chairman of PNGRFL made the announcement on Friday after the final board meeting of year 2016 on Thursday.

He said Rau’s appointment was unanimously endorsed by the PGRFL Board after it was recommended by the selection committee.

“We made the announcement in the final board meeting on Thursday and his appointment is effective immediately.

“The subcommittee has made their interviews of the five finalists and made their recommendations this week before the last board meeting on Thursday last week and we have made the endorsement of Reatau Rau as CEO of PNGRFL,” PNGRFL chairmanSandis Tsaka said

Taska said Rea was a professional with high level management experience and a long service to rugby league.

“Reatau is an Accountant by profession and brings with him over 32 years of professional and high level management experience and over 20 years of involvement in rugby league administration and management at all levels,

“Mr Rau is the Treasurer of PNGRFL and PNGNRL Mr Rau not only has the professional qualifications but is a Papua New Guinean leader of high integrity and importantly has the knowledge of the game which is important for the sport s we go into our World Cup preparations this year and commence our other domestic and international programs the PNGRFL has the confidence in Rau to provide the strategic leadership and management required to improve the sport and its management on and off the field,” Taksa said

Rau thanked the subcommittee and Vanguard for their screening and their recommendations and said he sent his letter of resignation to start immediately with his new position.

“It will be an interesting journey and I will be looking forward to the challenge, I have been part and partial of the team as treasurer and also in charge of the finance and audit committee of the PNGRFL.

“There was a lot of quality candidates from PNG and overseas and I am happy that the PNGRFL board has the faith in me we have the world cup this year and the hunters 4th year and other programs to concentrate on this year,” Rau said