RUA GOLD Provides Outlook and Growth Catalysts for 2026

VANCOUVER, BC, February 9, 2026 – RUA GOLD INC. (“RUA GOLD” or the “Company”) (TSXV: RUA) (OTCQB: NZAUF) is pleased to share its positive outlook as it outlines the Company strategy for 2026, including the commencement of drilling at Glamorgan, on the North Island and the advancement of the Reefton Project towards permitting on the South Island of New Zealand.

Following the completion of the oversubscribed and upsized financing in January 2026, the Company has C$38M in available cash and is very well-positioned to deliver on several catalysts to shareholders.

Expanded Drill Program across the Reefton Project

The drill program underway across the Reefton Goldfield has two primary goals:

1. Three drill digs are operating at the Auld Creek target continuing with step out drilling with an aim to increase the resource at this target.
2. One rig is then focusing on other highly ranked prospective targets across the past producing Reefton Goldfield with the aim to find the next optimal target for low capital intensity resource definition. In essence this means shallow and continuous opportunities.

Work is ongoing with RSC to complete the updated 43:101 Technical Report for the Reefton Project which is due to be published at the end of the month. Completion of this will set a base for the Auld Creek resource and assist in the ongoing drill planning to maximise resource growth.

Catalysts: continuous exploration updates coming to the market with this four drill rig approach.

Permitting Process Underway for the Reefton Project

RUA GOLD is actively progressing permitting related activities on the West Coast of New Zealand. The Company has appointed key partners to assist in advancing the studies and permitting process. These project partners have strong and relevant experience with neighbouring Endura Mining’s Snowy River Project (due to pour gold in December 2026),  OceanaGold’s Globe Progress reclamation project, and OceanaGold’s Wharekirauponga project on the North Island which was the first mine fully permitted in the Fast Track process in 112 days and is now under construction.

The teams have completed field visits through December and January and the Company is targeting submission of a Fast Track referral application in Q1 2026 with a decision expected by the regulators in Q2 2026. This would determine whether the Reefton Project would be eligible for the 6-month Fast Track permitting process.

Given the antimony byproduct at the Reefton Goldfield and its strategic importance for New Zealand in participating in global focus for securing critical minerals, we are confident with the eligibility of this project.

Engagement with our local Māori stakeholders, Te Runanga o Ngāti Waewae has been ongoing with respect to exploration activities and future development plans. Ngāti Waewae are strong supporters of the project and will work closely with the Company throughout the Fast Track process, including assisting with cultural impact assessments. Community and regulatory consultations have commenced and will intensify throughout 2026.

Subject to a successful referral application, the Company is targeting submission of the Fast Track application by the end of 2026. 

Catalysts: Anticipated inclusion of the Reefton Project for the Fast Track permitting process in Q2 2026. Submission of a mining permit application in Q4 2026. During 2026, we will be conducting ongoing environmental and technical studies in advance of submitting the mining application.

Commencement of Drilling at the Glamorgan Project

The Glamorgan Project is located in the renowned Hauraki Goldfield on the North Island of New Zealand. The district has produced 15Moz gold and 60Moz silver and still has active mining underway. The RUA GOLD tenements lie adjacent to the OceanaGold Wharekirauponga Project, which recently advanced through fast track permitting process in 112 days and is now under construction.

Over the past 18-months, RUA GOLD has carried out a complete systematic surface exploration at Glamorgan.  This has resulted in the identification of surface geological features 3kms north and identical to Wharekirauponga. RUA GOLD has defined four major gold arsenic anomalies, each trending approximately 4km in length. This has established a strong pipeline of drill ready targets with a well defined initial 5,000 metre program to be executed using 2 drill rigs over a 6-month period.

Catalyst: Applications for drill permits have been submitted and environmental studies are underway. Planned completion of these studies are expected by the end of February. This will be followed by Māori consultation in March and we anticipate drill permits in Q2 2026.

About RUA GOLD

RUA GOLD is a well funded exploration company, strategically focused on New Zealand. With decades of expertise, their team has successfully taken major discoveries into producing world-class mines across multiple continents. The team is 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 tenements, in a district that historically produced over 2Moz of gold grading between 9 and 50g/t.

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. Glamorgan is adjacent to OceanaGold Corporation’s biggest gold mining project, Wharekirauponga.

RUA GOLD Contact

New Zealand Simon Delander VP Risk Stakeholder Regulatory Affairs Email: [email protected] Website: www.RUAGOLD.com

Canada Robert Eckford Chief Executive Officer Email: [email protected]

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed “forward-looking statements”. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words “expects”, “plans”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “projects”, “potential” and similar expressions, or that events or conditions “will”, “would”, “may”, “could” or “should” occur and specifically include statements regarding: the Company’s strategies, expectations, planned operations or future actions including but not limited to exploration programs at its New Zealand properties; the intended use of the net proceeds of the Offering; and the final acceptance of the TSXV with respect to the Offering. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; risks related to the effects of the Russia-Ukraine war; risks related to climate change; operational risks in exploration, delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration projects or capital expenditures; the actual results of current exploration activities; conclusions of economic evaluations; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; changes in labour costs and other costs and expenses or equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, including but not limited to environmental hazards, flooding or unfavorable operating conditions and losses, insurrection or war, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or financing, and commodity prices. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company’s forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company’s documents filed under its SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca for a description of additional risk factors.

Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company’s management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management’s beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.