About Oceania Rugby

UN Women is the global champion for gender equality, working to develop and uphold standards and create an environment in which every woman and girl can exercise her human rights and live up to her full potential. The UN Women Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Fiji, covers 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Using rugby to promote gender equality and, longer term, to prevent violence against women and girls is central to an agreement between UN Women and Oceania Rugby, which is supported by the Pacific Partnership to End Violence Against Women and Girls (Pacific Partnership), primarily funded by the European Union, and the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and UN Women.

ChildFund Rugby’s partnerships provide children with opportunities to play, learn and grow. Using integrated rugby and life skills learning, young people from vulnerable communities are equipped to overcome challenges, inspire positive social change and take active leadership roles within their communities. Under ChildFund Australia’s guidance, its Rugby for Development programmes contribute to achieving gender equality, reducing inequality, and ending violence against children, reflecting targets within the UN Sustainable Development Goals. ChildFund is recognised as a pioneer organisation within the International Safeguards for Children in Sport, which ensure that children are physically and emotionally safe across sport. ChildFund Australia is an independent international development organisation that works to reduce poverty for children in developing communities, and is a member of the ChildFund Alliance, a global network of 12 organisations which assists almost 23 million children and their families in 70 countries.

Team Up is the Australian Government’s sport for development programme comprising more than 30 partnerships across Asia-Pacific that are working towards three outcomes: 1. Sport programmes attract and retain women, girls and people with a disability, as well as men and boys 2. Sport organisations are safe, inclusive and accessible 3. Australia and Asia-Pacific partners use sport to strengthen relationships and build closer collaboration These three outcomes all contribute to Team Up’s overall goal: Australia-Asia-Pacific sport partnerships support all people to realise their full potential through sport.

PacificAus Sports is driving more ambitious sports partnerships between Australia and the Pacific in high performance sport. It a flagship initiative of Sports Diplomacy 2030 and Australia's Pacific Step-up. It gives priority to activities that seek to: 1. Develop pathways for Pacific teams to play in high-level Australian sporting competitions 2. Support Australian teams to increase their presence and participation in the Pacific, and 3. Create pathways for emerging Pacific athletes to benefit from high performance coaching and training. PacificAus Sports works across all sport with a special focus on expanding partnerships with Pacific sports teams and organisations in netball, rugby union, football and rugby league. It is delivered through partnerships between the Australian Government and Australian, regional and Pacific island sports organisations.

The sport's national governing body in Australia and is a member of World Rugby and Oceania Rugby. Australia is regarded as a world powerhouse in men’s and women’s rugby, represented nationally by the Wallabies, Wallaroos (VX-a side) and the AU 7s men and AU 7s women. Domestically, there are over 246,000 active male and female rugby players across nearly 1000 Clubs, with diversity supported through a range of innovative programs and community partnerships. Rugby Australia has enjoyed a long friendship with our Pacific Rugby neighbours and are proudly supporting Team-Up programs in Fiji, Samoa, PNG and Nauru.

Was founded in 1913, is the national governing body for the sport, a member of Oceania Rugby and World Rugby, and a member of the World Rugby Council. As Fiji’s national sport, rugby boasts over 60,000 registered junior players (male and female), and over 4500 coaches. Fiji’s national teams, the Flying Fijian’s and Fijiana (XVs), and its men’s and women’s 7s, are respected globally, as regulars at Rugby World Cups, on the HSBC World Sevens Tour, and the Olympics. Fiji’s Men’s 7s become the pride of the nation after winning gold in Rio-2016 – the country’s first ever Olympic medal.

Rugby Union is the national sport of Samoa, and Samoa enjoys a deep and rich history of producing some of the world’s best players. Lakapi Samoa is rugby’s national governing body (previously known as Samoa Rugby Union) and is a member of Oceania Rugby and World Rugby. Samoa’s national teams (Manusamoa – men’s team, and Manusina – women’s teams) are national ambassadors and rugby events at all levels garner passion and patronage. The Manusamoa have been to every Rugby World Cup since the 1991, and the Manusina, are growing increasingly competitive as they look to compete in their 4th Rugby World Cup in 2021.

Was established in 2011 and is a member of Oceania Rugby. Rugby was played socially until 2014 when Sevens tournaments were introduced. By 2015, Nauru sent its first national Men’s Sevens team to the Pacific Games and Oceania Sevens Championship. Over the last five years, activities have been delivered across all communities widen participation, with women’s rugby started in 2016, and women’s 7s and men’s XVs also gaining entry to regional competitions. Rugby continues to grow in popularity across social and competitive formats.

A member of Oceania Rugby and World Rugby. Whilst their national rugby union team, the Pukpuks, played its first international in 1966, the sport’s growth has been most rapid in recent years, among men, but with a focus on inclusion, also among girls and women and the deaf-community following the introduction of deaf-rugby in 2018. In 2019, 6660 (3850 boys, 2810 girls) participated in the modified junior (Get into Rugby) programme. This, and the performances of the women’s national 7s team at regional tournaments has increased the profile and following among girls and women.

A non-governmental organisation (NGO) started in 2017. Run entirely by volunteers, it provides sign language training and support to deaf community. It has been active in promoting and supporting the participation of members of the deaf community in rugby union since 2018. There are several active deaf-rugby coaches, a solid and competitive player-base and deaf teams frequently participate in mainstream club competitions and Rugby Sevens tournaments, with simple additions to referee communication (use of different coloured) flags, the main practice that enables full-inclusion on the field.

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) is one of New Zealand's largest sports organisations, with a team committed to leading, supporting, growing, and promoting rugby. NZR’s goal is to be a world-leading sports organisation, helping all of rugby to be the best it can be. NZR aims to create an environment that is attractive and welcoming, a game for all. NZR is proud to deliver the Pacific Sporting Partnership – Sport for Health initiative in partnership with Oceania Rugby and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (MFAT) Aid programme. The partnership aims to encourage more children in the Pacific, specifically in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, to play sport and lead healthier lifestyles.