Oil Search will serve as official platinum partner for Papua New Guinea, which is due to stage three matches at the tournament, due to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

As part of the deal, the company will have in-stadium branding and will support the community programme and World Cup trophy tour in the Pacific nation in the build-up to the event, scheduled to run from October 27 to December 2.

The Rugby League International Federation (FIL) has also announced the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby, host city of the 2015 Pacific Games, will be the venue for Papua New Guinea's three matches at the competition.

Papua New Guinea will play Wales on October 28, Ireland on November 5 and the United States on November 12.

"The Rugby League World Cup 2017 Organising Committee, with the support of the Papua New Guinea Government and the City of Port Moresby, looks forward to staging the biggest event in the country this year and we are pleased to welcome Oil Search, one of Papua New Guinea’s largest organisations as a tournament partner," Organising Committee chief executive Andrew Hill said.

Rugby League World Cup 2017 general manager for commercial and marketing, Rohan Sawyer, described the enthusiasm for the event in Papua New Guinea as "palpable".

"We look forward to working with Oil Search to deliver an event that will celebrate rugby league, inspire communities and showcase Papua New Guinea to the world," added Sawyer.

The National Football Stadium underwent extensive renovation work in order to be ready for the 2015 Pacific Games.

The 15,000-capacity venue is the home of the Papua New Guinea Hunters, who compete in the second tier of club rugby league in Australia.

"The National Football Stadium is the premier rugby league venue in Papua New Guinea and a fitting stage for the world’s best players to contest international rugby league’s most sought-after prize, the Paul Barrière Trophy," Sawyer said.

"Over the past two years, the National Football Stadium has hosted a number of global events with great success and we expect these three Rugby League World Cup matches to be played in front of sold-out crowds, with an atmosphere second to none."