As the National Rugby League (NRL) season kicks off, the abundance of Pacific players in the tournament is once again apparent. All NRL teams now have notable players with Pacific nation heritage, to the point where it’s challenging to envision the game without them. However, what’s intriguing is that the players’ sense of pride in performing at the highest level is now influencing their decision on which nation to represent at the international level.

In 2017, the International Rugby League, which serves as the sport’s worldwide governing body, amended the eligibility criteria to enable players with ancestral ties to multiple countries to select the nation they represent. This policy shift has produced a substantial impact, with numerous Pacific players opting to play for their ancestral homelands, even though they are qualified to play for Australia or New Zealand, which have traditionally been the more preferred career destinations for these elite athletes.

Impact on the Field

The consequences of this change have been observable on the field. Toa Samoa’s advancement to the final of last year’s Rugby League World Cup marked the first time a Pacific nation had achieved such a feat. Samoa’s success followed the rise of Mate Ma’a Tonga at the past world cup in 2017. This achievement has validated the decision of numerous Pacific players to represent their ancestral nations, serving as an inspiration for aspiring footballers at the grassroots level who aspire to emulate their success.

Hearts Before Bank Balances

Numerous top players have had to forgo the significant financial benefits of playing for the Australian or New Zealand national teams by changing their allegiance during the pinnacle of their careers. This has necessitated selecting their ancestral homeland over their country of birth. As stated by Sio Taukeiaho, a Tongan born in New Zealand, this has been a challenging decision, but one that necessitates following their hearts. By choosing to represent their inter-generational familial heritage, these players underscore the importance of cultural values in the sphere of professional sports.

Michael Jennings, a former NRL star and seven-time Australian international, opted to represent Tonga in 2017, and he has first-hand experience of what this entails. He expressed that playing for Australia in seven tests was an honour and a privilege that he would always treasure. However, representing Tonga was a unique experience, as there was a stronger emotional connection to the Tonga jersey. When donning the Tongan jersey, he was reminded of his family’s struggles, and the significance of representing his heritage was always at the forefront of his mind. In this regard, he emphasized that the players were not merely representing themselves, but also their families and their ancestry.

Growing the Game

Providing context to this transformation, it is worth noting that at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, 22 out of the 24 players in Toa Samoa’s squad would have been qualified to play for Australia or New Zealand. Similarly, all but one member of Mate Ma’a Tonga’s squad had dual eligibility. While some of these players may not have been selected for the bigger nations’ teams, several prominent athletes, such as Brian To’o, Martin Taupau, Joseph Sua’ali’i, and Addin Fonua-Blake, chose to represent their heritage nations rather than Australia or New Zealand.

Notable Pacific players who opt to represent their ancestral homelands play a crucial role in elevating the sport’s profile in the Pacific and promoting its international growth, which experts have emphasized as a priority. All of these trends within the sport were apparent earlier this year in February when Rotorua hosted the inaugural NRL Indigenous and Māori All Stars tournament. This tournament featured both male and female participants, known respectively as tāne and wāhine.