Australian Rugby League Commission announces new 2023 Pacific Championships

The Australian Rugby League Commission has released details of a 2023 Pacific Championships involving international men’s and women’s matches in October and November this year.

To help promote and develop Rugby League in the Pacific through the Championships, the Commission has also announced a partnership with the Australian Government.

The Australian Government will partner with the NRL to ensure Pacific Championships matches can be played in the Pacific, enabling players to play in front of their loyal local fans.

The inaugural Pacific Championships will feature women’s and men’s teams from Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga.

The Government is committing $7 million over the next two years so that seven Pacific countries are included in the Championships and for games to be played in Papua New Guinea and Fiji as well as Australia and New Zealand.

The Pacific shares a passion for rugby league. These Championships recognise a desire from Pacific rugby league communities for increased elite-level competition, played in the Pacific, for Pacific audiences.

The competition builds on Australia’s long-standing support for developing sporting excellence in the region, particularly in rugby league, strengthening the Pacific family.

It will deliver high-performance pathways for Pacific athletes, coaches, referees and administrators, and continue to build the viability of sport in the region.

Games will be played in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea this year, with the 2023 tournament scheduled to take place from Saturday 14th October 2023 to Sunday 5th November 2023.

Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Australia will co-host the tournament this year and Fiji will co-host the competition with Australia in 2024.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted “The Pacific Championships mark the beginning of an exciting new phase of international rugby league competition in the Pacific for both women and men.

“Geography makes us neighbours, but through sport we build strong and lasting ties across the Pacific family.”

Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy added “Given around half the players in the NRL are of Pasifika heritage, and our shared love of sport, this Competition will bring people from across the Pacific even closer together.

“The Championships will provide a new opportunity for athletes in the Pacific to play and develop professionally, and will inspire a generation of girls and boys across our region.”

ARLC Commissioner Kate Jones shared “The Commission’s focus on growing the international game will combine with an equally strong desire to grow rugby league in the Pacific.

“Importantly, the international matches will be highlighted by both men’s and women’s matches.”

“The southern hemisphere tournaments will deliver on the broader NRL Pacific Strategy objectives – to create pathways for aspiring athletes, coaches, referees and administrators from the Pacific along with further growing international Rugby League.”

NZRL Chief Executive Greg Peters added “To bring the best players in the world back home to play in front of their communities is special.

“International rugby league is in an exciting new era, and we are privileged in New Zealand to witness first-hand how much this game means to our Māori and Pasifika communities.

“Having the Pacific Championships locked in for the next two years is extremely exciting and undoubtedly will inspire the next generation of world-class players from all nations.

“No other code can produce such celebrations of culture and passion; the Eden Park and Waikato atmospheres will be unmissable.”

The tournament
Six men’s teams and seven women’s teams will take part in the 2023 tournament across two pools, which will begin on 14th October. The men’s tournaments will culminate in finals in Hamilton, New Zealand, and Port Moresby on 4th-5th November.

The 2023 Championships will include two match days in Australia, two in New Zealand and four in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

2023 Pacific Championships Schedule

Week One - 14th and 15th October

• Australia v Samoa (men) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville

• Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium Townsville

• PNG v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

• Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Two - 21st and 22nd October

• New Zealand v Samoa (men) at Eden Park, Auckland

• New Zealand v Tonga (women) at Eden Park, Auckland

• Fiji v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

• PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Three - 28th and 29th October

• Australia v New Zealand (men) at AAMI Park, Melbourne

• Australia v New Zealand (women) at AAMI Park, Melbourne

• PNG v Fiji (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Four - 4th and 5th November

• The Final of the men’s Pacific Cup tournament on 4th November in Hamilton, New Zealand

• The Final of the men’s Pacific Bowl tournament on 5th November at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Tickets for matches in Australia will be released in September.

Image. Credit: NRL.