The elite-level tournament will involve players from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Cook Islands.
The first Pacific Championships will be co-hosted by Australia, NZ and PNG this year.The Australian government has said it would commit $7 million for a Pacific rugby league championship, in a "football diplomacy" move seen as boosting the nation's soft power amid competition for influence with China.
"Geography makes us neighbours, but through sport we build strong and lasting ties across the Pacific family," Albanese said. "Sport unites us - and there is no sport that does that more than rugby league. Think about the Rugby League World Cup when we saw Samoa battle the Kangaroos.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Australia Post launches major new service for customersThe big change will help both customers and retailers ahead of the Christmas period.
Read more »
‘Lot at stake’: China’s relationship with Australia ‘very important’ for SA tradeAustralia’s trade relationship with China is “certainly going better”, says South Australia Planning and Housing Minister Nick Champion. “We’ve seen the relationship stabilise and the tariffs on barley come off, which is a really great start,” Mr Champion said at The Advertiser Bush Summit. “It’s a very important relationship for Australia … South Australia in particular has a lot at stake with this major market.”
Read more »
For the first time, Australia has targets aimed at ending violence against women and childrenThe government has set targets for ending violence against women and children. There is also a dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander action plan.
Read more »
Lawyer claims Australia’s richest person ‘defrauded kids’Gina Rinehart committed fraud with iron ore mining tenements now worth billions of dollars, a lawyer for her two eldest children has told a court.
Read more »
'One in a 100': Essential workers priced out in Australia's rental crisisFull-time early childhood educators, nurses and aged care workers are among those who cannot afford a large swathe of Australia's rental properties.
Read more »