A rugby league team from Papua New Guinea is set to join the National Rugby League (NRL) in 2028 after receiving an official license. The agreement was made public on Thursday following discussions between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister James Marape in Sydney. Their meeting represents the culmination of two years of negotiations, which began with an initial agreement reached in May this year. Since then, both leaders have worked to finalize the details of the proposed team.
Albanese expressed that the establishment of a Papua New Guinea team in the NRL is a significant development for enhancing the bilateral relationship between Australia and PNG. He emphasized the shared passion for rugby league in both nations, highlighting its role as a unifying force. “Australia’s relationship with the Pacific is crucial, and our ties through sports are exceptionally unique,” he stated.
Legal documentation to formalize the team’s creation is anticipated to be completed shortly. Although the team has not yet been named, it is viewed as a strategic diplomatic move for Australia, especially in light of growing Chinese influence in the Pacific region. The Australian government estimates that this initiative will cost taxpayers approximately 600 million Australian dollars (around $380 million) over a decade.
This new team will become either the 18th or 19th franchise of the NRL, contingent upon any further expansion efforts in Perth, Western Australia. To facilitate player relocation to Papua New Guinea, tax incentives will be provided. Additionally, players will reside in a secure compound in the capital, Port Moresby, which will be arranged by the PNG government. Recruitment efforts will not begin until November 2026 due to league regulations that prevent the franchise from contacting players on other NRL teams prior to that date.
Marape underscored the significance of the team beyond sports, stating that it represents a unifying initiative for the nation, with the aim of fostering national cohesion. “This team is for one people, one country, one nation,” he affirmed.
Rugby league, a version of rugby union played with 13 players per side, is mainly popular in Australia, New Zealand, England, and France, but it also enjoys participation in various other nations, including the United States and Lebanon, both of which field national teams.
Looking ahead, the Rugby League World Cup, which consists of ten teams, is set to take place in 2026, hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea, after its original scheduling for France in 2025 was adjusted.
