Fiji yet to sign Pacific Rugby League Partnership

Fiji is yet to sign the Statement of Partnership with Pacific Rugby League Federations, an initiative backed by the Australian Government and the

Australia Rugby League Commission (ARLC) valued at about AU$250 million (FJ$390.13m).

The partnership was signed by Samoa, Tonga and Papua New Guinea last month in Brisbane.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) signed the landmark agreement in the presence of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape, Samoa Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt, and Tonga Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua.

Senior representatives from the respective governments were also present to witness the landmark moment.

Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru said yesterday Fiji would sign the agreement shortly.

“We will sign it soon,” Saukuru said.

“They (ARLC) will come to Fiji and meet Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.”

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys signed the historic document alongside counterparts from the PNG Rugby Football League, Tonga Rugby League XIII and Rugby League Samoa.

The Pacific Rugby League Partnership has three main pillars — community and grassroots, pathways and academies, and elite and international — with a strong focus on introducing young boys and girls to rugby league at an early age.

Initiatives under the partnership include:

„ Expanding existing youth engagement and violence prevention programmes to reach more communities.

„ Establishing primary and high school competitions in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, supported by a network of teachers accredited as coaches.

„ Setting up programmes in each country to promote girls’ competitions.

„ Building men’s and women’s national competitions across age groups.

„ Continuing to deliver Pacific Championship matches and identifying opportunities for NRL and NRLW matches to be played in the Pacific.