The annual Harmony Nines tournament continues to grow in popularity with two new heritage nations taking part in the cultural and Rugby League celebration kicking off this weekend (19-20 October) in Shellharbour.
The event, run by the NSWRL in conjunction with Heritage Rugby League, will feature 22 heritage groups, 79 teams and almost 1200 players in a two-day event at Croom Regional Sporting Complex. Greece and South Sudan will both make their debuts in 2024.
“Harmony Nines is always a wonderful spectacle as it provides heritage nations with the opportunity to celebrate their culture through Rugby League,” NSW Community Rugby League Manager Peter Clarke said.
“The fact we have Greece and South Sudan coming on board this year reflects the ongoing popularity of our game across all sections of the community. The highlights are not just restricted to the action on the field with the cultural exchanges also something to look forward to.
“I encourage fans to attend the Harmony Nines event and cheer for those heritage nations who are starting or continuing their Rugby League journeys."
The event will feature 133 games including Under 16s and Under 18s Boys and Girls, Open Age Men and Women, Emerging Nations Open Age Men and Open Age Women, and a Physical Disability showcase.
In a further boost for fans, Harmony Nines will be broadcast live on NSWRL TV, which is also now available as a dedicated app on the Apple App store and Google Play store.
The heritage teams are allocated into two pools and play nine-a-side matches and 16-minute halves, with the top-seeded teams at the end of the pool games progressing to the finals.
The heritage groups featured this weekend include Africa United, Cambodia, Fiji-Australia, FIRLA (Italy), First Nations Indigenous, Greece, Latin Heat, Lebanon, Macedonia, Malta, Mediterranean, Niue, NSW Maori, NSW Pasifika, NSW Samoa, NSW Tonga, Ozzy Cooks, Philippines, South Sudan, Syria, Thailand and Turkey.
Harmony Nines began in 2009 with the aim of increasing Rugby League participation in multicultural communities across the state, as well as encouraging stronger understanding and harmony through Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups.
Tickets are only $5, while pensioners and children under 12 are free.
Click here to pre-purchase tickets for Harmony Nines.
Click here to access the NSWRL TV download.
