Rugby as diplomacy: Australia's strategy to curb Chinese influence
1 week, 4 days ago

Rugby as diplomacy: Australia's strategy to curb Chinese influence

India Today  

In a unique diplomatic strategy, Australia has signed a pact with Papua New Guinea allowing it to join the national rugby league competition in an effort to curb Chinese influence. The BBC report said that though the exact terms of the deal are not available, it is learnt that Australia has made it clear that it will end its funding if PNG signs a security pact with any country beyond the "Pacific family". The BBC report said that if Australia ends the agreement, the national rugby league will be obligated to drop PNG. The agreement marks a new chapter in Australia's "sports diplomacy", allowing Canberra to use its influence in the rugby world to wean away PNG from Chinese influence.

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History of this topic

Papua New Guinean NRLW team put on hold after NRL expansion announced for 2028
1 week, 3 days ago

Papua New Guinean NRLW team put on hold after NRL expansion announced for 2028

ABC  

Australian Rugby League Commission chair Peter V'landys says a Papua New Guinean team will not enter the NRLW until the league is confident it can be competitive. The Pacific nation had its NRL dream realised when the Australian and PNG Prime Ministers met in Sydney on Thursday to announce a team will join the league after two years of negotiations. …

Papua New Guinea gains a team in Australian rugby league in diplomatic push aimed at curbing China
1 week, 4 days ago

Papua New Guinea gains a team in Australian rugby league in diplomatic push aimed at curbing China

Associated Press  

MELBOURNE, Australia — Papua New Guinea will gain its own team in Australia’s rugby league in a soft diplomacy deal announced Thursday linked to limiting Chinese influence in the South Pacific. China has pursued its own bilateral security pact on policing with Papua New Guinea and with other South Pacific island nations which U.S. allies including Australia fear could undermine …

Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team from 2028
1 week, 4 days ago

Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team from 2028

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A team from rugby league …

Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team starting in 2028
Trending News
1 week, 4 days ago

Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team starting in 2028

Associated Press  

SYDNEY — A team from rugby league hotspot Papua New Guinea will enter the National Rugby League beginning in 2028 after officially being granted a license on Thursday. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papua New Guinean counterpart James Marape met in Sydney to shake hands over the deal, the culmination of two years of planning. “A Papua New …

Australia, PNG unveil deal for Papua New Guinea team to enter NRL in 2028
Top News
1 week, 4 days ago

Australia, PNG unveil deal for Papua New Guinea team to enter NRL in 2028

ABC  

Australia and Papua New Guinea have unveiled a long-awaited deal handing PNG its own NRL team, confirming the league's most ambitious expansion since formation, and notching what the federal government is hailing as a major strategic victory. "Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea and PNG deserves a national team," he said. Neither leader would be drawn …

Why the NRL's expansion into Papua New Guinea is the most ambitious and complex move in rugby league history
1 week, 4 days ago

Why the NRL's expansion into Papua New Guinea is the most ambitious and complex move in rugby league history

ABC  

There has been plenty of smoke around Papua New Guinea's entry to the NRL, but that didn't make it any less striking as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, PNG Prime Minister James Marape and NRL boss Peter V'landys confirmed there would be fire to go with it. PNG team to enter NRL under long-awaited deal with Australia Photo shows A man …

In a contest of influence in Papua New Guinea, Australia triumphed over China through our shared love of footy
1 week, 4 days ago

In a contest of influence in Papua New Guinea, Australia triumphed over China through our shared love of footy

ABC  

On the eve of this year's State of Origin grand final, a Papua New Guinean colleague gifted me two bright "bilum hats" — woven beanies in the traditional style of his home in the highlands of PNG. "Papua New Guineans like to show off their strength through physical contact," he says, covered in dust and wearing a huge grin after …

Security pact to block China not linked to NRL deal, PNG PM says
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Security pact to block China not linked to NRL deal, PNG PM says

ABC  

Papua New Guinea's prime minister says his country's bid to join the NRL doesn't hinge upon a security pact, despite Australian government sources saying negotiations would see China blocked from gaining a military foothold in PNG. Before flying to Sydney on Thursday afternoon, Prime Minister James Marape said there was no "deep" security element to the NRL bid. PNG NRL …

Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou says a new PNG NRL team would be a big boost to the region
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou says a new PNG NRL team would be a big boost to the region

ABC  

Jason Demetriou says his immediate focus is on growing Papua New Guinea rugby league through the national team, not putting his hand up to lead the country's forthcoming NRL side. After two years of planning, the NRL's PNG team is expected to be rubberstamped at a meeting in Sydney next week in what Demetriou called "a huge milestone" for rugby …

Australian Public Diplomacy and a National Rugby League Team in Papua New Guinea
1 month ago

Australian Public Diplomacy and a National Rugby League Team in Papua New Guinea

The Diplomat  

The 2024 Olympics in Paris demonstrated the continuing importance of sports events as an aspect of public diplomacy and soft power. As former Prime Minister John Howard noted, Australia has a self-appointed “substantial and special responsibility” toward the Pacific island states. The abandonment of the White Australia policy and the decolonization process throughout the Pacific led Australia to reposition itself …

Papua New Guinea's chance at an NRL team may hinge on a pledge not to sign a security deal with China
2 months, 1 week ago

Papua New Guinea's chance at an NRL team may hinge on a pledge not to sign a security deal with China

ABC  

Papua New Guinea's hopes of fielding a team in Australia's NRL competition could hinge on a promise from its government not to sign a security deal with China. Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy said a PNG-based NRL team was part of Australia's "soft diplomacy". "Australia doesn't really want to have another incident where it has diplomatic egg on its …

Australia announces new initiatives to help improve PNG's internal security, law and justice as part of major bilateral security agreement
6 months ago

Australia announces new initiatives to help improve PNG's internal security, law and justice as part of major bilateral security agreement

ABC  

Australia has announced a package of initiatives aimed at strengthening Papua New Guinea's internal security and law and justice priorities under a major bilateral security agreement. "A stronger and safer Papua New Guinea is good for PNG and it is good for Australia," Senator Wong said. Australia, PNG sign new security pact Photo shows Australian PM Anthony Albanese and James …

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