Rua Gold Inc. (TSX: RUA) (NZX: RGI) (OTCQX: NZAUF) (WKN: A40QYC) is pleased to provide an update on exploration and development activities at its Auld Creek Gold-Antimony Project in the Reefton Goldfield, New Zealand.

The Company’s exploration team continues to advance an extensive resource expansion and technical evaluation program at Auld Creek. Alongside resource growth drilling, detailed geotechnical, hydrogeological and metallurgical studies are underway to support the Company’s Pre-Feasibility Study and planned Fast-Track Mining Application, anticipated in Q4 2026.

Highlights: 

• Recent drilling continues to demonstrate significant potential to expand the gold-antimony resource over a strike length exceeding 1,000 meters and depths greater than 500 meters. 
• The Company is on track to complete and incorporate the 19,000-meter drill program and the additional technical studies into the upcoming PFS with completion anticipated in Q4 2026.
• Highlighted assay results from drilling at Auld Creek include: 
  • ACDDH072: 2.3m @ 3.5 g/t AuEq¹ (2.9 g/t Au & 0.3% Sb) from 227m
  • ACDDH073: 2.7m @ 7.6 g/t AuEq¹ (1.8 g/t Au & 2.7% Sb) from 269m
  • ACDDH073: 0.9m @ 6.4 g/t Au from 77m (upper fault)
  • ACDDH075: 10.1m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq¹ (2.0 g/t Au & 0.1% Sb) from 331m
  • ACDDH076: 0.6m @ 4.4 g/t Au from 317m
  • ACDDH078: 2.9m @ 5.6 g/t Au (incl 0.9m @ 15.9 Au) from 194m
• The Company’s 100th drill hole at Auld Creek was collared this week with approximately 10,000 meters of the planned 19,000-meter drill program completed to date.
• Geotechnical studies, including rock strength, hydrogeology, specific gravity and rock porosity studies, are advancing to support detailed PFS mine methodology.
• Approximately 1,000 kilograms of resource grade mineralization has been shipped to Intertek, Australia for advanced metallurgical testing.
• Scout drilling has commenced to evaluate the full 2,500-meter length of the surface gold-arsenic-antimony soil geochemical anomalies.
• The Company’s Fast-Track Referral Application is currently under review by the New Zealand Government, with a decision anticipated in July 2026.
• More than 30 consultants and independent advisors are supporting environmental, social and economic studies for future permitting activities.
• Since November 2025, the Company has conducted more than 500 engagements with local communities, stakeholders and regulatory agencies.

Robert Eckford, Chief Executive Officer of RUA GOLD, commented, “With our Fast-Track Referral Application submitted and the Preliminary Economic Assessment completed, the team has accelerated resource expansion drilling while simultaneously advancing the technical studies required for the PFS. At the halfway point of our planned drilling campaign, we are ahead of schedule and continuing to build confidence in the resource while advancing development planning. We are encouraged by the consistency of the mineralization being intersected and remain focused on delivering the PFS in the fourth quarter of 2026.”

 Figure 1: Auld Creek Fraternal long section

AULD CREEK EXPLORATION UPDATE

Recent drilling continues to demonstrate strong evidence to expand the gold-antimony resource over 1,000 meters in length and over 500 meters in depth. Continuous drilling will complete the planned 19,000-meter drill program by the beginning of September 2026. Details on each reported intercept are below.

ACDDH073, 075, and 076 provide strong evidence of grade continuity within the southern Fraternal zone, increasing confidence in the mineralized envelope approximately 300 meters below surface.

Notable intercepts include:

• ACDDH073: 2.7m @ 7.6 g/t AuEq¹ (1.8 g/t Au & 2.7% Sb) from 268m
• ACDDH073: 0.9m @ 6.4 g/t Au (from 77m (Upper Fault))
• ACDDH075: 10.1m @ 2.2 g/t AuEq¹ (2.0 g/t Au & 0.1% Sb) from 331m
• ACDDH076: 0.6m @ 4.4 g/t Au from 317m

Hole ACDDH078 represents the first in a series of infill holes designed to evaluate the northern portion of the resource area.

• ACDDH078: 2.85m @ 5.6 g/t Au (incl 0.9m @ 15.9 Au) from 193.95m

The results complement earlier intersections of increasing gold tenor that are indicating a near horizontal attitude, similar to the Bonanza lode dipping gently north.

Refer to Table 1 and Table 2 for a full description of recent drill hole data.

The active drill program is also generating critical geotechnical, hydrogeological and metallurgical data required for the PFS. These studies include rock strength testing, hydrogeological characterization, specific gravity measurements and detailed ore zone characterization, all of which are scheduled for incorporation into the PFS expected in Q4 2026.

Figure 2: Core photo gold assays ACDDH078 and ACDDH073. Location of Auld Creek drilling

PRE-FEASIBILITY STUDY UPDATE

Following completion of the Preliminary Economic Assessment, the Company’s technical partners, Mining One and Pitch Black, commenced work on the PFS in late May 2026.

A comprehensive metallurgical testwork program is underway and is expected to inform the final process flowsheet. Mine infrastructure and surface layout designs have been refined and are being presented to local communities, stakeholders and regulatory agencies as part of ongoing consultation efforts.

Simon Delander, VP Risk, Stakeholder and Regulatory Affairs, commented, “We have welcomed delegations from central government, regional and district councils to the project area for detailed technical briefings and site visits. Maintaining open dialogue with government agencies and stakeholders is important as we advance permitting activities and continue to refine development plans for Auld Creek.”

The resource model is being updated regularly as new drill results become available, supporting mine planning and scheduling activities. The Company expects the integrated PFS work program to be completed during the fourth quarter of 2026.
Technical consultants and independent advisors supporting the Fast-Track permitting process recently met in Christchurch to coordinate workstreams and align project deliverables in preparation for submission of a substantive Fast-Track permit application later this year.

REGIONAL EXPLORATION UPDATE

In May 2026, RUA GOLD mobilized a fifth drill rig to support exploration activities at the Alexander River and Big River gold targets in the southern Reefton Goldfield.

These programs form part of the Company’s broader strategy of evaluating multiple high-grade gold deposits that could ultimately support a regional mining and processing hub centred on Auld Creek. Drilling is ongoing, and assay results are pending.

Figure 3: Overview of the Reefton Goldfield highlighting active drilling at Auld Creek, Big River and Alexander River

ABOUT RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD is an exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, our team has successfully turned major discoveries into producing world-class mines in multiple continents. The team is now focused on maximizing the asset potential of RUA GOLD’s two highly prospective high-grade gold projects.

The Company controls the Reefton Gold District as the dominant landholder in the Reefton Goldfield on New Zealand’s South Island with over 120,000 hectares of permits, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading from 9-50g/t⁽²⁾.

The Company’s Glamorgan Project solidifies RUA GOLD’s position as a leading high-grade gold explorer on New Zealand’s North Island. This highly prospective project is located within the North Islands’ Hauraki District, a region that has produced an impressive 15Moz of gold and 60Moz of silver⁽³⁾.