NRL’s Pacific Invitation Matches – 22 June 2019
This year’s Pacific Invitational, to be held on 22 June 2019 at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney, will feature the women’s match between Papua New Guinea and Fiji, commencing at 3.40pm, along with the men’s match Samoa vs Papua New Guinea at 7.40pm.
Tickets are on sale via https://tickets.nrl.com/
Mayor of the Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne, hosted a Civic reception on Wednesday 19 June 2019 to honour the Papua New Guinea Men’s and Women’s Rugby League Teams as part of the NRL’s Pacific Invitational celebrations.
2019 NRL Pacific Invitational Civic reception, Leichhardt.
L-R: Peter Beattie (Chairman ARLC), Amelia Kuk (Captain Orchids), Wayne Pearce, James Segeyaro (Captain Kumuls) and Darcy Byrne (Mayor Inner West council, Sydney)
Also attending were Peter Beattie, Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, Wayne Pearce, Amelia Kuk (Captain of the Orchids), James Segeyaro (Captain of the Kumuls), and documentary producer, Joanna Lester.
Held at the Palace Cinema Leichhardt, it was followed by a screening of the documentary Power Meri, a moving documentary that followed Papua New Guinea’s first national women’s rugby league team, the PNG Orchids, on their journey to the 2017 World Cup in Australia.
Power Meri draws on a variety of subjects.
‘High on that agenda was the prejudice women face in a country which has unfortunately high rates of domestic violence. But it also showed a nation of such diversity could unite and come together as one team.’ (https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/how-league-is-empowering-pngs-women-to-overcome-prejudice/news-story/36630ad62465fe9beeb9703f7a3b6bce)
Wearing t-shirts with ‘Respektim Meri’, it is clear that rugby league is becoming a vehicle to change perspectives and mindsets – the girls have a voice to stand up in public and stand up for what they feel.
The women’s match, with the Orchids, will be broadcast live across NRL digital platforms plus Kayo sports and the men’s match will be broadcast nationally across the Nine Network, Fox sports and NRL Live Pass.
