Europe meets the Pacific, meets the Middle East, meets Latin America, meets Australian Indigenous teams … that’s how wide the reach is for the NSWRL’s Harmony Nines tournament, which is making its return in October after a four-year absence.
Registrations are open but closing fast.
Teams have until 10 October to be part of this two-day multicultural Rugby League event at the Croome Road Sporting Complex, Albion Park, from 29-30 October.
Competition is for U16 boys, U18 girls, senior men’s and women’s divisions, plus a social League Tag category.
Some of the teams registered so far include NSW Samoa, Ozzy Cook Islands, Fiji-Australia, NSW Maori, Mediterranean-Middle East, Malta, Ireland, Africa United, South Sudan, Macedonia, Italy-Australia, El Salvador-Latin Heat, Argentina, Cambodia, Vietnam, Tonga, Philippines, and NSW Indigenous.
All age groups play games in the nine-a-side format each day, with cultural celebrations from each region or nation at night.
“So players get together and have a celebration of their heritage after playing a bit of footy together as well,” NSWRL Head of Community Football Peter Clarke said.
“A lot come together and form a group to play so they can help develop Rugby League in their home country.
“The critical step in that happening is to kick off a group here in the Harmony Nines.”
Clarke said the next steps would be developing strategies and projects to give the game more traction in their own nations.
"The Harmony Nines is a wonderful initiative and goes from strength to strength every season," he said.
“We’ve missed out the past few years but we’re back and it’s the first time we’ve taken the Harmony Nines to a regional area.”
Heritage Rugby League NSW President Javed Hamidi said: “The Harmony Nines will be culmination of a special return to football for many heritage clubs in NSW.
"It will celebrate culture and diversity through Rugby League, while focusing on development, as well as providing a fun festival atmosphere for all participants, their families and communities."
Click here to register for this year's tournament.
