The World Cup Co-Hosts Where Rugby League Is a National Obsession

Papua New Guinea stands as one of the co-hosts of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup alongside Australia and New Zealand, yet it occupies a unique place in the sport’s global landscape. On this Pacific island nation, rugby league is far more than a pastime. It is a national obsession that unites communities, shapes identities and offers pathways out of hardship. As Port Moresby prepares to stage four matches at the Santos National Football Stadium this month, the intensity of local support is expected to create one of the most atmospheric settings of the entire tournament.

A Passion Rooted in History and Culture

Rugby league arrived in Papua New Guinea in the 1930s through Australian miners working in the territory. The game, already deeply embedded in the working-class cultures of New South Wales and Queensland, found fertile ground among the local population. Its raw physicality resonated with a people long accustomed to tribal conflicts fought without a ball. Over decades the sport spread rapidly, becoming the dominant code and a powerful force for national cohesion in a country that speaks more than 800 languages and dialects.

Today the devotion is unmistakable. Villages gather around television sets to follow the National Rugby League or Super League. Children fashion balls from containers, plastic bottles or whatever materials they can find and play on any scrap of grass or gravel available. Participation rates remain high, and the knowledge of the game among ordinary fans often surprises visitors. Only the Cook Islands rivals Papua New Guinea in the depth of national attachment to rugby league.

The atmosphere at home matches can be overwhelming. A crowd of 15,000 at the Santos National Football Stadium frequently sounds twice as large. Players on the field sometimes struggle to hear one another amid the noise. That same passion has occasionally spilled over into crowd trouble in the past, requiring police intervention, yet the sport more often acts as a peacemaker, bringing people together across tribal lines.

The Kumuls and the Power of Representation

For many Papuans the men’s national team, the Kumuls (named after the bird of paradise), represents hope and pride. Hooker Edwin Ipape, who now plays for Leigh Leopards in Super League, has spoken movingly about the emotional impact of representing his country. “Back home when we play in front of our own fans, just to see the fans, the crowd get behind us, singing the national anthem… it makes me cry every time,” he said.

Ipape grew up in Mount Hagen in the Highlands, where tribal rivalries remain a harsh reality. Rugby league provided structure and ambition. He recalls saving lunch money to buy an American football that served as a makeshift rugby ball. Heroes such as Larsen Marape and Menzie Yere lined the walls of his childhood home. Reaching the professional ranks transformed his life. “Rugby league has given me pretty much everything,” Ipape explained. “It’s instilled discipline and it’s taught me a lot of lessons about life.”

The pathway for young talent typically runs from village sides to provincial teams, then to the PNG Hunters in Australia’s Queensland Cup. From there, contracts in the NRL or Super League become realistic possibilities. Former Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers centre Justin Olam exemplified that journey before his retirement. Second-generation Papuans born in Australia, such as Leigh back-rower Jacob Alick-Weincke, also embrace the opportunity to reconnect with their heritage through the national team.

The Rise of the Orchids and Women’s Rugby League

The women’s game has undergone its own remarkable transformation. The Orchids, Papua New Guinea’s women’s national team, have grown in prominence since their debut World Cup appearance in 2017. Prop Elsie Albert, who plays for Parramatta Eels in the NRL Women’s Premiership, has become the country’s first female rugby league superstar.

Albert has spoken candidly about the cultural barriers the pioneering generation faced. Traditional expectations often confined women to domestic roles, and early players encountered hostility, including bottles thrown into stadiums. A defining moment arrived in 2019 when the Orchids defeated England 20-16 in Port Moresby after losing the first Test. The victory in front of a passionate home crowd signalled a shift. “You could feel it was going to change,” Albert recalled. “Rugby league is a great way for us to advocate for change.”

Younger players continue to build on that foundation. Fleur Ginn Wagambie, following family tradition, made her Orchids debut in 2025 and now hopes to feature in the World Cup on home soil. The documentary Power Meri helped bring wider attention to the women’s journey and the social progress the sport has enabled.

Looking Ahead: NRL Expansion and World Cup Spotlight

From 2028 Papua New Guinea will field its own NRL franchise, the PNG Chiefs. High-profile signings have already been made, while local talent continues to be developed. Several Papuan players who helped London Broncos achieve a Championship treble in 2026 have been linked with the new club, further strengthening the domestic talent pipeline.

For the duration of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, Port Moresby will serve as a vibrant hub. The Santos National Football Stadium, with its modest capacity, will host matches that showcase both the Kumuls and the Orchids in front of some of the most passionate supporters in the sport. Visiting teams often remark on the warmth and intensity of the reception, even when the volume becomes almost overwhelming.

Rugby league in Papua New Guinea is more than entertainment. It is a source of national identity, a vehicle for social change and a ladder of opportunity. As the World Cup unfolds across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, the island’s contribution will be measured not only in results on the field but in the unmistakable energy that only a true national obsession can generate.

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