Australia turns to rugby to curb China influence in PNG
Papua New Guinea (PNG) will join Australia's national rugby league competition, after signing a deal that obligates them to shun security ties with China. The Pacific nation has produced many stars of Australia's National Rugby League (NRL) and has long been lobbying to join the franchise.
PNG Leader Says Bid To Join Australian Rugby League 'Very Strong'
Papua New Guinea's bid to break into Australia's rugby league competition is "very strong", the Pacific nation's prime minister told AFP on Tuesday, with an announcement expected imminently.
Australia inks $518m rugby deal with Papua New Guinea to combat China influence
The deal marked the most substantial investment that Australia has ever made in sports diplomacy. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Australia to tackle Chinese influence with Papua New Guinean rugby team
A team from the Pacific nation will join Australia’s National Rugby League in a $400 million deal that deepens ties while denting China’s regional security push.
Australia strikes ‘rugby diplomacy’ deal with Papua New Guinea to counter China
Australia said on Thursday that it would invest A$600mn ($385mn) over 10 years to set up a rugby league team in Papua New Guinea, where the sport is hugely popular, to compete in the Australian league by 2028.
Rugby league-Australia to fund PNG team's entry to NRL in 2028
By Kirsty Needham and Alasdair Pal SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia will provide Papua New Guinea (PNG) A$600 million ($382.80 million) over 10 years to support its team's entry to the National Rugby League,
Papua New Guinea is granted a National Rugby League team starting in 2028
A team from rugby league hotspot Papua New Guinea will enter the National Rugby League from 2028 after officially being granted a license
Australia deploys rugby diplomacy to tempt neighbour away from China
Australian government will invest £300m in a new rugby league team based in Papua New Guinea. But there’s a catch – and it has nothing to do with the sport
Papua New Guinea gains a team in Australian rugby league in diplomatic push aimed at curbing China
The Australian government will spend 600 million Australian dollars ($380 million) over a decade to add a team from its nearest neighbor to the National Rugby League from 2028. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Papua New Guinea counterpart James Marape announced the deal at a Sydney news conference.
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