RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 1970

International Team - Norfolk Island Rugby League

Top level domestic competition - Junior league

History - In the 1970's Norfolk Islands domestic competition consisted of three teams playing in a round robin format, Longridge (Blues) , Cascades (Reds) and United (Greens).

Norfolk Island toured New Zealand for the first time in 1976 to play against Glenora, Rotorua and Auckland, winning all 3 games. Their representative colours were green with a gold vee.

In 1992 the Island participated in the Pacific Cup along side other pacific nations. Norfolk Island played well but were out of their depth losing all games played.

Today Norfolk Island still runs a junior rugby league competition "N.I.J.R.L". In the last three years the N.I.J.R.L has rekindled contacts with the NSWRL and also made some relationships with development offices from the Brisbane Bronco's.

Brighton Seagulls, from the St George district accommodated a Junior NI team in 2007, when NI sent 19 players on a 1 week tour where, they played 2 games against Brighton, and also attended the NSWRL Academy's MOD training camp. This was then reciprocated by Brighton in 2008 when Brighton Seagulls sent a team, staff and supporters over to play on Norfolk Island. The event was a huge success. The N.I.J.R.L are currently looking for more overseas junior clubs to for reciprocal tours.

Norfolk Island Junior numbers have improved dramatically over the past 3 years,110 player in 2007 to 95 players in 2008, They have 4 grades with 4 teams in the youngest grade, Under 7's (5-7yrs), and then only 2 teams in all other grades, Under 10's (8-10yrs), Under 14's (11-14yrs) and Junior A's (15-18yrs), the season runs for approximately 14-15 weeks and the teams play each other every week.

Norfolk Island rugby league at a masters level will be making a comeback. A masters team may enter in the 2009 ARL masters competition which will be held at Runaway Bay Queensland. The NRL and rugby league Internationals are televised in many pacific nations including Norfolk Island. The recent Rugby League World Cup will hopefully provide more funding to assist with the continued development of the sport in the pacific.

Dear Readers, If you have first hand knowledge of the current Rugby League situation in Norfolk Island we would love to hear from you. Please email us at: webmaster@rugbyleagueplanet.com or join our international rugby league Forums at http://forums.rugbyleagueplanet.com and let us all know what's going on in your part of the world.

Tokelau 44 - Norfolk Island 8

American Samoa 94 - Norfolk Island 2

Maori 84 - Norfolk Island 8

Australian Aborigines 74 - Norfolk Island 2