For the first time in ten years, sports fans in Vanuatu will have the chance to see their national men’s rugby league team in action on home soil, when they take on the Asian champions Singapore.
As an added bonus the women’s nines team will make their first ever appearance in-country when they too play Singapore.
The men’s squad will be under the watchful eye of Cameron Meninga, brother of former Australia coach Mal, and the hope is the encounter with the Singaporeans will mark the start of a revival for rugby league in Vanuatu after COVID 19 blew the code off course.
The VRL’s Vice-President, Dave Lolo, has been a driving force behind bringing this weekend’s double header to fruition, but he’s encountered some obstacles along the way, not the least of which is the fact that the national men’s soccer team will be in action on the same day in Port Vila against their Pacific rivals Fiji.
Bad timing you would think, and at the 11th hour, Dave has discovered that Korman Stadium, the venue for the rugby league internationals is not up to scratch.