Scoring tries and strengthening ties

AUSTRALIA is helping grow rugby league across the Pacific, committing $250 million over 10 years to the Pacific Rugby League Partnership.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday joined Prime Minister James Marape and leaders from Samoa and Tonga in Brisbane to launch the new partnership, which aims to strengthen the link between sport and opportunities in education, leadership and employment.

The leaders were joined by the Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), Peter V'landys and representatives from a number of Pacific rugby league federations.

Australia’s commitment to the partnership is part of its $600 million investment in rugby league across the Pacific, which includes support for the entry of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs into the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028.

Australia’s funding for the partnership will deliver more than just a pathway for emerging talent across the Pacific. The Pacific Rugby League Partnership has three main pillars – community and grassroots, pathways and academies, and elite and international.

Early initiatives of the partnership include: 

• Expanding existing youth engagement and violence prevention programmes to reach more communities.

• Establishing primary and high school competitions in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, supported by a network of teachers accredited as coaches.

• Setting up programmes in each country to promote girls’ competitions.

• Building men’s and women’s national competitions across age groups.

• Continuing to deliver Pacific Championship matches and identify opportunities for NRL and NRLW matches to be played in the Pacific.

The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will be delivered by the ARLC in partnership with the national rugby league federations of Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “The Pacific Rugby League Partnership is about far more than a game – it’s an investment in people as much as it is sport.

“Through one of Australia’s favourite sporting codes, we are bringing our Pacific family closer together.

“In communities across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, this will help create pathways – not just into sport but also education, leadership and employment.”

Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Pat Conroy said: “Sport has a unique power to connect people in a way that few other things can.

“For decades we have watched talented players from the Pacific star in the NRL, and in more recent years the NRLW.

“The Pacific Rugby League Partnership will support player development at the same time as increasing school attendance and promoting healthy lifestyles and respectful relationships.”