From humble beginnings the Niue Rugby League Australia has established itself as ‘a regular’ at the NSWRL Harmony Nines and will field four teams in the 2024 tournament this weekend (19-20 October) at Croom Sporting Complex in Shellharbour.
It is also a special occasion for the tiny Polynesian state located north-east of New Zealand, and east of Tonga.
Pictured above are the NSW Community Rugby League Manager, Peter Clarke, (2nd Left) and NSW Minister for Sport and Multiculturalism Steve Kamper (2nd Right) with Niue Harmony Nines delegates.
In 1974, Niue became a self-governing state in free association with New Zealand, making 2024 Niue’s 50th anniversary.
Four teams – Under 16s Girls, Afine Niue; U16s Boys, Fuata Niue, Open Women’s, Falala Niue; and for the first time an U18s Boys, Toa Niue – will play in the round-robin, nine-a-side competition with the winners from each Pool progressing to the finals.
The Harmony Nines this year brings together more than 1300 players from 29 multicultural communities or nations over two days of matches to decide champions in eight divisions.
Niue first played in the Heritage Rugby League’s Harmony Nines in 2010.
“It was very humble beginnings,” Niue Rugby League administrator, Grace Kapinga, said.
“Our first training, there was only two people that turned up. We had to change the stigma that surrounded Niue.
“Players would say anyone could turn up on the day and play for Niue because Niue didn’t have a lot of players.”
But Niue worked with NSWRL and Heritage Rugby League before being given permission to include a couple of non-heritage players.
”Everyone had such a great time, getting to meet all the other nations, and making new friends along the way,” Kapinga said.
“We were back the following year (2011), but this time more Niuean players turned up to our trials for a place in the teams. In 2012 we found ourselves fielding two men's teams for the next couple of years.”
Players with Niuean heritage came from New Zealand, South Australia, Brisbane, Melbourne and Bathurst to take part in the Harmony Nines event.
Last year Niue was proud to field its first U16s Girls Afine Niue, and U16s Boys Fuata Niue sides.
“This will be another first for our tiny little nation to have an Under 18s Toa Niue playing in the Harmony Nines. We are looking forward to seeing what 2025 will bring,” she said.
“Many families travelled far and wide to show their support for our tiny nation Niue also known as ‘The Rock of Polynesia’.”
That could be due to the fact it is the world’s largest raised coral atoll – 270 square kilometres – created from a now dormant underwater volcano peak more than three million years ago.
