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

In a groundbreaking development, Papua New Guinea has been officially granted a license to join the Australian NRL in 2028.

Backed by a massive AU$600 million investment from the Australian government, this historic move is part of a broader strategy to strengthen regional partnerships through sport.

The team will be based in Port Moresby, marking PNG as the first Pacific nation to enter the NRL.

Player recruitment and infrastructure development will ramp up from late 2026, with expectations sky-high for the birth of a new rugby dynasty.

Australia’s Prime Minister called it “a game-changing opportunity” for both sport and diplomacy.