While basketball and soccer are popular in their homeland, there’s a group of Australian-born South Sudan athletes who wanted something more physically challenging.
That spark to want to play Rugby League turned into a flame as South Sudan made its debut at the two-day NSWRL Harmony Nines multicultural tournament at Shellharbour on the NSW south coast.
Their enthusiasm and talent helped them win three of their pool-round games to get them into the Semi-finals and then the Grand Final of the Open Male (Emerging) division to face fellow 'newbies' to the Nines event, Greece.
The Greeks won 16-8 but South Sudan captain Stimon Mow said that just getting on the field at the Croom Regional Sports Complex for their first game was a welcome milestone.
“A lot of the boys were obviously raised here in Australia. Back in the motherland it’s mainly soccer but a lot of us wanted something more physical, more contact,” Mow told nswrl.com.au
“Rugby League is always on TV so we all watch it and have really taken an interest in it. It’s part of the culture here so we thought we’d mix it with a little of ours.”
It all started with a group of African youths coming to Blacktown PCYC, where manager Steve Warwick saw their desire to play Rugby League.
“It just grew from there … we haven’t looked back since,” Mow said.
“He noticed their interest in league the minute they came through the door. He got to thinking he could quite easily start something with the talent he had and spoke to me about it.
“In 2012 we started playing Nines as ‘Africa United’ and with our love for the game and playing together, we just got bigger. In 2019 we came onto the scene as South Sudan at the Cabramatta Nines because we were getting a massive flow of Sudanese kids wanting to play league.
“For us it’s just getting to play a sport we grew up watching and loving. And then add to that the opportunity to represent our family and people back home be wearing the South Sudan jersey and that’s massive.
“Our youngest in this team is 18 and I’m the oldest at 29.”
Coach Stephen Carmichael, who played for Western Suburbs Magpies juniors and started coaching All Saints Toongabbie Tigers in the Parramatta district, had been friends with Warwick “for a long time through football”.
“He asked if I’d help out and I was only too pleased to do so,” Carmichael said, adding the South Sudanese players picked up the basics of the game quickly.
“They are all pretty good natural athletes and those who came to us want to play Rugby League specifically. Physically they are up to the challenge.
“They’re very tough kids but also a lot of fun to be around. Training is full of laughter – they have a great time together.
“They welcomed me with open arms. I’m also helping with Africa United in the Under 16s (at Harmony Nines) and they’re a joy to coach too.
“It’s not all about winning – it’s about being proud of your family and where you came from and mixing that in with fun with your mates.”
