The upcoming Rugby League World Cup in England will once again highlight the diversity of the game, with players representing their countries and cultures with pride at the tournament.
Nations like Jamaica in the men’s draw and Brazil in the women’s are making their World Cup debuts this year and are providing inspiration to other emerging rugby league nations, who will aim to follow in their footsteps in years to come.
Some of these fledgling rugby league nations include the Philippines and India, who will get their own chance to represent the developing talents of their players at this weekend’s Asian Football Festival at Davies Park on Sunday, October 9.
This display of cultural heritage and emerging nations international rugby league is being staged in partnership with the Queensland Rugby League, Brisbane Broncos and host club Souths Logan Magpies.
This new sporting event is aiming to bring communities together and, in the long run, it will create potential pathways to a higher level of rugby league for talent identified through this carnival.
Tournament organisers are also hoping it will connect a network between sport, businesses and community; and it is hoped that money raised from the event will be divided equally between the competing nations to help promote the game at grassroots in their respective area of origin.
There will be both a men’s and a women’s draw with the men’s games to be contested between the Philippines Tamaraws, Indian Jungle Cats, Thailand Erawan and an ASEAN representative team.
The women’s draw will see the Philippines Sampaguitus take on the mixed Asian heritage Jewel Finance XIII representative team.
This non-for-profit community event will also take play during the 10-year anniversary of the very first international rugby league game played by any Asian countries, commemorating when the Philippines Tamaraws and Thailand Erawan played their first representative match in Bangkok in 2012.
The Philippines were winners that game and will be looking to repeat the victory on Sunday afternoon.
The Indian Jungle Cats are featuring in just their third match together.
Event details
What: Asian Footy Fest
When: Sunday, October 9, with games from noon
Where: Davies Park, home of the Souths Logan Magpies
Draw
12pm: Women's rugby league – Philippines Sampaguitas v Jewel Finance International XIII
2pm: Men's rugby league – Indian Jungle Cats vs ASEAN XIII
4pm: Men's rugby league – 10th anniversary rematch – Philippines Tamaraws v Thailand Erawan XIII
Tickets will be available at the gate.
