In a remarkable day for international rugby league, four Prime Ministers witnessed the ARL Commission sign an historic agreement with Pacific rugby league federations on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
The statement of partnership between Pacific countries Australia, PNG, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa was ratified in Brisbane and will help encourage rugby league throughout the Pacific.<\/p>\n
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, PNG Prime Minister James Marape, Samoan PM La\u2019auli Leuatea Schmidt and Tongan PM Lord Fakafanua united at the Sofitel Hotel to witness the landmark moment, which will be supported by a $250 million investment by the Australian Government.<\/p>\n
The Pacific Rugby League Partnership is a historic initiative between the ARLC, the Australian Government, Pacific Governments and the rugby league federations of Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.<\/p>\n
Supported by a $250 million investment from the Australian Government – a key part of the broader $600 million commitment to PNG – the partnership will grow rugby league across the Pacific, using the game as a catalyst for social change.<\/p>\n
There will be a strong focus on introducing young boys and girls to rugby league early in life and building participation in the sport, including through schools.<\/p>\n
Albanese spoke passionately about the game and the initiative.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been years in the making and required hard work and diligence,\u201d said Albanese. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a partnership built on the Pacific\u2019s deep shared passion for rugby league.<\/p>\n
\u201cRugby league is about identity, it\u2019s about who you are. It\u2019s about who your parents supported and you connections with your local community. It\u2019s something that can inspire and drive a community to achieve better.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis Pacific partnership will inspire the people of these fantastic nations and together we are all one Pacific family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt will lift up all of us over the coming years and I have no doubt that for however long I have the privilege of occupying the position that I do, this will be right up there as one of the most significant changes that we could possibly make to improve lives. Rugby league is a game that brings people together.\u201d<\/p>\n
ARLC chairman Peter V\u2019landys signed the document alongside counterparts from the PNG Rugby Football League, Tonga Rugby League XIII and Rugby League Samoa.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a massive investment and part of our Pacific strategy in participation. Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and PNG will all benefit from this,\u201d said V\u2019landys.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn partnership with the Federal government, we are going to introduce rugby league to all these nations and provide them with resources to ensure that rugby league is prominent in those countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will ensure we have people on the ground in schools and running competitions, so that\u2019s what it\u2019s about.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re the No.1 most watched sport in the Pacific and this is only going to consolidate that. It will give millions of Pasikifa kids the opportunity to play rugby league in some form, be it touch, tag or contact rugby league.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is all part of the Papua New Guinea initiative. Some of that $600 million we got from the Federal government will go towards this. Everyone thinks it was just money for the PNG Chiefs, no it wasn\u2019t, this is part of a wider strategy in the Pacific.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we will see a Pasifika NRL team but what it will lead to is more players for the code. With expansion teams, we need more players and you will see young stars coming from the Pacific. The Pacific could become the biggest nursery for the NRL with this strategy.\u201d<\/p>\n