Australia’s National Rugby League will feature a franchise in Papua New Guinea from 2028 as part of a wide-ranging 10-year deal between the countries’ respective governments.
A Papua New Guinea-based NRL franchise has been on the cards for some time, and it was reported back in May that the Australian government and the league had agreed the framework of a 10-year public investment deal worth A$600m (£301m/€365m/$383m).
A press conference was held today (Thursday) in Sydney to officially announce the deal between the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the Australian government to fund a 10-year ‘Pacific Rugby League Partnership’.
As well as supporting the introduction of an NRL team, the partnership will facilitate investment into grassroots, pathways and elite rugby league across Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys described the announcement as a “historic step” for rugby league. V’landys was present at the press conference alongside Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape.
The new team will be based in the capital city of Port Moresby. It is unclear where the team will play its home matches, and no name has been announced for the franchise.
A separate ‘Australia-Papua New Guinea Bilateral Security Agreement’ has also been launched today. It will serve as a legally binding framework for closer security relations.
Australian broadcaster ABC has reported that the deal includes a clause that will allow the federal government to withdraw its funding to Papua New Guinea if the latter breaches its security commitment with Australia. It is claimed that the NRL would be obligated to immediately terminate the franchise if there was such a breach.
Andrew Hill, chief executive of the PNG NRL bid, said: “PNG is in the incredible position of being the only country in the world where rugby league is the national game. It brings together people from all backgrounds and locations under one banner. When you have a population that can unite behind one cause, it is incredibly powerful, and we have the potential to create the largest fan base of any other current NRL team.”
The NRL currently features 17 teams following the addition of the Brisbane-based Dolphins in 2023. The Papua New Guinea franchise will be the second team outside of Australia, joining the Auckland-based Warriors.
Papua New Guinea will co-host the 2026 Rugby League World Cup alongside Australia.
