NRL launches Pacific Strategy

NRL launches Pacific Strategy

The NRL has launched its Pacific Strategy aimed at strengthening Rugby League and building stronger business and community ties in the Pacific Islands.

NRL CEO, Mr Dave Smith, said the Pacific Islands – Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Papua New Guinea – would play a crucial part in the game’s future.

And he said there was enormous potential to develop closer ties with government and business connections in the Pacific and build closer community relations through Rugby League.

Mr Smith will be joined by Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens in Samoa next week as part of the Pacific Strategy launch.

Jarryd Hayne will visit Fiji with other NRL stars later this year to promote the strategy.

The visits will involve everything from meetings with government and business officials through to football clinics and education programs for children.

Mr Smith said the Pacific Nations had the potential to become powerhouses of the game.

He said about 37 per cent of NRL players already come from the Pacific Islands.

“The interest in our game in Samoa is incredible, especially now that they have qualified for the Four Nations tournament at the end of the year,” he said.

“And, with the next World Cup in 2017, there is no reason one of the Pacific nations cannot make the finals of our biggest international event.

“We saw Mal Meninga coaching the Papua New Guinea Kumuls for the last World Cup and we have seen the PNG Hunters perform incredibly well in the Queensland Cup.

“So the game is on the rise in the Pacific and the timing is perfect to build our relationships on and off the field.”

Mr Smith said the Pacific Strategy would focus on:

• Game development

• Player welfare

• Commercial and corporate opportunities

• Supporting education, social and community outcomes

• Strengthening the Rugby League bodies in each nation to build the international game

Mr Smith said one of the great aspects of the program was that it enabled NRL stars like Sonny Bill Williams and Jarryd Hayne to give something back to their homelands.

The players will combine skills clinics with educational programs aimed at teaching children how to eat well and lead healthy lifestyles.

Tim Sheens, who has coached some of Australia’s finest players will also conduct coaching clinics and classes for children.

Mr Smith said the NRL already had 12 staff in Papua New Guinea who would teach life skills to about 50,000 students in 80 schools over the next three years.

“We are looking to engage up to 10,000 students in Samoa and Fiji through the NRL’s literacy and anti-bullying programs which will replicate our current “League for Life” Program in PNG.

“At the same time we want to help young people in Fiji, PNG, Samoa and Tonga develop their rugby league careers by expanding the pathways already in place which enable them to play in local competitions and, ultimately, their national teams.”

Sonny Bill said he was looking forward to working with the Samoan children and communities to help improve their lifestyles.

“I don’t think there is anything better than knowing you helped change someone’s life for the better,” he said.

“So if we can educate Samoan school children about nutrition and healthy lifestyles – and throw in some football skills as well – it will be a great outcome.”

Jarryd Hayne said playing for Fiji in the World Cup was one of the most memorable experiences of his life.

“I love the idea of giving something back to the people of Fiji and the beauty of this program is that it is all inclusive – it reaches out to boys and girls and covers everything from literacy and maths skills to sporting and social skills.

“It also encourages teamwork and we all know how important that is on and off the field.”

Source: http://www.nrl.com

Hayne jumps on NRL Pacific Strategy

A few weeks prior to the 2008 World Cup Jarryd Hayne could march down a street in Suva and the locals couldn't have cared for all the Fiji Bitter in the islands.

On his return four weeks later, it was Bati-mania.

"We came back from the World Cup we couldn't walk down the street," recalls Hayne.

"We had to get a taxi one time to about 200 metres down the road because we were getting stopped and pulled."

The Pacific Islands are literally, the sleeping giants of rugby league. Ask any winger that's been bulldozed by Semi Radradra this year, or burnt on the outside by Marika Koroibete.

With the launch of the NRL's Pacific Strategy, rugby league is taking another step toward waking a region limitless in potential. The next moves the game makes need to match that potential in size.

Already about 37 per cent of NRL players share a link to places like Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Papua New Guinea. That's not including the hundreds and thousands that turn out in competitions below the elite level.

Hayne, the hottest player in the game at the moment, was joined by its most marketable, Sonny Bill Williams, on Thursday to kickoff the initiative alongside CEO David Smith.

Williams jets out, along with Smith and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens, for his native Samoa on Sunday, while Hayne will head to Fiji later in the year along with other NRL stars.

As the NRL goes about establishing a similar program to the League for Life one currently set up in PNG, it hopes to engage up to 10,000 students throughout Fiji and Samoa through literacy and anti-bullying programs.

It was Williams who summed up the relationship between the game and the developing region best, and just how much current players have to gain from giving something back.

"It's a two-way street," he said.

"The islands are important to the game and the game's important to the islands.

"I think going back there is one bit of advice I would give to any footy player of island descent who's made a name of themselves. Go back and see just how simple they live over there.

"It's easy for footy players, especially of island descent to come to New Zealand and come to Australia, make it big and forget how humble they are and how happy they are. It's a great leveller."

"The work ethic over there is crazy. Just how hard they work for how little they have. It gives you a good touch on what it is to be happy with what you have."

Smith is also aware of how important the Pacific is, but is realistic about how rugby league can go about capitalising on the foothold the game has ground out against traditional powerhouse rugby union.

An NRL game being taken to PNG or Fiji for example is still a few years off yet. Perhaps taking a trial match to Suva or Port Moresby, as is the case with country regions in NSW and Queensland each year, is the next leap.

"Taking an NRL game away is something you’d consider but it's complex," Smith said.

"The stadiums would have to be right; the schedule has to be right.

“The South Pacific Games will be in PNG next year. There is a new stadium that’s being built. Some of the facilities there are pretty good. Some of the facilities in Fiji are pretty good.

"I wouldn’t say it’s out of the question in terms of whether it’s an NRL game or one of our international games. It’s something we would consider as part of our development."

As is the stunning arrival of the PNG Hunters in the InTrust Super Cup this year, where they're currently fighting for a finals appearance in their first year.

Ditto the moves to install a Fijian side in the NSW Cup for 2016, with the team set to be based out of Suva and play their home games at ANZ Stadium.

All these things take time, effort, and of course money. A resource which Smith admits isn't coming in bucket loads at present, but could well be sooner rather than later.

"Hopefully we'll be working in tandem with respective governments and making sure that as the community benefits come through everybody plays a part," Smith said.

"It's not a significant amount of money to do what we're doing; it's a very small amount of money.

"But as the game develops working in conjunction with government and working with the local rugby league bodies I think we should be investing significantly.

"The opportunity for us as a game to make people's lives better in Samoa, Fiji, tonga and PNG is phenomenal. And to then see the rich flow of players coming through into the game is a benefit too.

"I don't think there are any boundaries."

Source: http://www.nrl.com

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rBydfkYJumA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Smith sees huge potential in the Pacific