Indian Heritage Rugby League NSW will make its debut at the 2026 NSWRL Harmony Nines this weekend (Saturday 17 – Sunday 18 October) where they will join 17 other heritage nations for a celebration of Rugby League, culture and community.
The annual tournament, hosted by NSWRL in conjunction with Heritage Rugby League NSW, will return for the second consecutive year to the Central Coast Regional Sporting and Recreation Complex at Tuggerah, bringing together players and communities from diverse cultural backgrounds.
India’s inclusion marks another exciting chapter for the round robin tournament, after the official launch of Indian Heritage Rugby League NSW at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence on Monday (12 October). The launch capped months of dedicated work by community leaders to establish opportunities for people of Indian heritage to connect through Rugby League.
The initiative, which formally began its journey in July this year, aims to increase participation, strengthen cultural connections and create pathways for members of the Indian community to become involved in the game for all.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden welcomed India’s involvement.
“We are delighted to welcome Indian Heritage Rugby League NSW to the Harmony Nines for the first time and congratulate everyone involved in bringing this initiative to life,” Trodden said.
“Their commitment to creating opportunities for the Indian community through Rugby League is a great example of what this tournament is all about.
“Events such as Harmony Nines are about far more than competition. They provide a platform for people to celebrate their culture, build lifelong friendships and foster meaningful relationships between communities.”
The 2026 tournament will feature 18 heritage nations competing across 11 divisions including Under 16s and Under 18s Boys and Girls, Open Age Men and Women, and Emerging divisions.
This year’s event also includes an Outback Open Women’s team, featuring players from Broken Hill, Wentworth, Menindee, Wilcannia and Bourke, which represents another opportunity for regional communities to be represented on the Harmony Nines stage.
First established in 2009, Harmony Nines aims to increase Rugby League participation among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities while promoting social inclusion, cultural understanding and community harmony.
“Harmony Nines 2026 will be a wonderful occasion for Heritage Rugby League clubs and communities to not only celebrate their culture and heritage by playing Rugby League, but also to share their culture with other multicultural communities,” Heritage Rugby League President Javed Hamidi said.
“It will bring cultures, communities and people together and bring relationships. I look forward to the Nines providing another remarkable festival, celebration, and display of Rugby League.”
Click here to buy tickets to the 2026 Harmony Nines.
