VRL Win with Holiday Inn Resort

Renowned Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu will sponsor the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) team for the upcoming Test Match in Port Vila against the Solomon Islands on 15th October at Port Vila Stadium. The resort will house some of the officials and the team will utilise the outstanding facilities in preparation for some of its training and plenty of relaxation.

VRL President Tom Carlo commented on the exciting new sponsorship “We’ve made a considered and long term commitment to play games in Vanuatu to contribute back to the local community. This sponsorship helps in our long term strategy to significantly contribute to Sports Tourism and bring an increasing number of touring teams to Vanuatu which not only helps Rugby League in terms of more regular and quality opposition but also positively and economically contributes to Vanuatu.”

The sponsorship will see the Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu feature on the back of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team playing jersey, training shirts and singlets. Holiday Inn Resort Vanuatu General Manager Simon Douhett commented “We are thrilled to be supporting the Vanuatu Rugby League in its efforts to bring international awareness to the sport here locally. We are always looking for ways to support the destination and the people of Vanuatu. As a large employer we see initiatives in which provide development of youth as hugely important and this is something that we will always endeavour to support.”

The squad has been selected predominantly from players in the Port Vila and Santo competitions and a few eligible players from overseas. The day will also feature the traditional Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars fixture will players able to use a platform to push for future national selection.

The squad is James Wood (Captain), Patrick August, Allan Avia, Yona Garae, Michel Henderson, Lester Kalpukai, Daniel Kaltapang, Dave Lolo, Ben Lui, Danford Lui, Tonny Lui, Filimone Masei, Malau Manaroto, Jason Pakoasongi, Alex Philip, Xavier Philip, Dominique Sablan, Sweeny Sablan, Max Taleo and Steeve Wells.

Tickets for the game against Solomon Islands are available for sale now at The Brewery Bar and FM107. Ticket Prices are 1,500 Vatu for the Grandstand and 500 Vatu for General Admission.

Match Details:

Venue: Port Vila Stadium

Gate Open: 12:30pm

Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars: 1:00pm

Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League vs Solomon Islands: 3:30pm

Nambawan Deal for VRL

Nambawan Brewing Company will continue its’ long association with the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) team, signing on as a Silver Sponsor. The Nambawan Brewing Company sponsorship will continue its sponsorship that started back in 2012 for the sides first ever Test Match against Greece and will include the upcoming Test Match in Port Vila against the Solomon Islands on 15th October at Port Vila Stadium.

VRL President Tom Carlo commented on the long standing sponsor “Nambawan Brewing Company have been a proud supporter of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team since our inception in 2012 and we value their ongoing commitment to Rugby League and the VRL and we hope to continue this great partnership for many years to come, as we hope to do with all our sponsors.”

The Silver Sponsorship will see the Nambawan Brewing Company feature on the sleeves of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team playing jersey, teams’ polo and training shirts and also on the back of the singlets. Scoop and Sprinkles (Port Vila Fire Ants Major Sponsor) will replace the Nambawan Brewing Company on all children’s merchandise and the Brewery Bar and Restaurant will also be the official venue of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team.

Nambawan Brewing Company and Brewery Bar and Restaurant Managing Director Matt Measey stated “As a group we have decided to support Rugby League in Vanuatu due to the high level of professionalism in the organisation of the sport here. The sport allows local men to be involved in a sport that offers disciple, respect, mate ship and educates them in a healthy lifestyle. I have employees who play the game and find that they take it seriously and has a positive influence on their lives. As a business we want to see our sponsorship achieving something and feel that Rugby League gives back to the community in more ways than just the game”.

The match will be Vanuatu’s first Test Match in two years, while Solomon Islands haven’t competed on the International stage since they impressed everyone in their Pacific Games debut in Port Moresby in 2015. Though it isn’t the only match to feature on the day with rivals the Port Vila Fire Ants and Santo Boars expected to light up Port Vila Stadium in what is expected to be another highly entertaining instalment of the 5th clash between the island nation’s two biggest provinces.

VRL President Tom Carlo further expanded on what this sponsorship means for the VRL “At the VRL we not only want to invest players but mostly we want to invest in people and contribute to making better citizens for Vanuatu. To have the long-term endorsement from an organisation such as Nambawan Brewing Company that we are making a difference and pleasingly this sponsorship allows us to continue that ongoing work we are investing in.”

Tickets for the game against Solomon Islands are available for sale now at The Brewery Bar and FM107. Ticket Prices are 1,500 Vatu for the Grandstand and 500 Vatu for General Admission.

Match Details:

Venue: Port Vila Stadium

Gate Open: 12:30pm

Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars: 1:00pm

Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League vs Solomon Islands: 3:30pm

VRL Lands Leading Pacific Advisory

Leading firm Pacific Advisory has signed on as a Gold Sponsor of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) team. The Gold sponsorship includes the upcoming Test Match in Port Vila against the Solomon Islands on 15th October at Port Vila Stadium.

VRL President Tom Carlo commented that this valuable sponsorship means more than just the revenue it brings into the organisation “This sponsorship is very important in the short term to allow us to stage an international fixture in Vanuatu, something most other Pacific countries don’t do due to the cost but in the long-term we plan to continue to partner with leading organisations such as Pacific Advisory to assist us the grow our game and organisation at all levels.”

The Gold Sponsorship will see Pacific Advisory that specialise in asset management, receivership management, procurement, investment advisory services, compliance and company licensing, researching market opportunities, conducting due diligence and policy development and implementation feature at the top back of a range of Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team playing jersey, teams’ polo, training shirts and singlets.

Pacific Advisory is pleased to support the ongoing growth of rugby league in Vanuatu,
Managing Partner Glen Craig says “We have watched the steady growth of Rugby League
in Vanuatu over the past 7 years and note is one of the few sports with regular
international matches in Vanuatu. This speaks to the dedication of the VRL and
international body to develop league amongst the grassroots level including the
recent introduction of a domestic competition.”

The game will be the first fixture between the respective nations since their only meeting in 2013, Vanuatu’s only game outside of Vanuatu in Mackay (Australia) to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the first South-Sea Islanders brought to Australia to work in the agricultural industry. Port Vila Fire Ants and Santo Boars will again do battle in the inter-provincial clash for the 5th straight year, since its debut game in 2012.

VRL President Tom Carlo further expanded on what this sponsorship means for the VRL “To now have a second organisation in Pacific Advisory, joining Fr8 Logistics/DHL is particularly pleasing to have such investments into a young organisation such as the VRL. They see the potential in what Rugby League as a sport can do for Vanuatu and the confidence in the organisation to deliver. Pacific Advisory has been so successful due to local knowledge and wise investments and we take great confidence of their investment into the VRL.”

Tickets for the game against Solomon Islands are available for sale now at The Brewery Bar and FM107. Ticket Prices are 1,500 Vatu for the Grandstand and 500 Vatu for General Admission.

Match Details:

Venue: Port Vila Stadium

Gate Open: 12:30pm

Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars: 1:00pm

Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League vs Solomon Islands: 3:30pm

Fr8 Logistics/DHL Delivers for VRL

Fr8 Logistics/DHL has signed on as major and naming rights sponsor of the Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL). The major coup by Fr8 Logistics/DHL means the team will be known as the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team, including for the upcoming Test Match in Port Vila against the Solomon Islands on 15th October at Port Vila Stadium.

“The sponsorship deal has ensured the game against the Solomon Islands could go ahead in what is a pleasing development for the VRL and the game of Rugby League in Vanuatu” commented VRL President Tom Carlo. Carlo further went on to say “This game couldn’t go ahead without a major sponsor and we’re very pleased to partner with an iconic brand such as Fr8 Logistics/DHL and be known as the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team.”

In addition to be the naming rights sponsor of the Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team, the DHL logo will adorn the front of the playing jersey and the teams’ polo, training shirts and singlets. Fr8 Logistics/DHL Managing Director Chris Kernot stated “Fr8 Logistics/DHL is super pleased to be part of Vanuatu’s involvement on the rugby league international world stage, supporting the Vanuatu Rugby League team, which we think portrays the DHL core values of ‘can do, absolutely with speed passion and teamwork”.

The game against the Solomon Islands will be Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League team’s fifth Test Match overall, fourth Test Match held in Vanuatu since its debut game against Greece in 2012, the first Test Match since 2014 game against Philippines in Espiritu-Santo, first Test Match in Port Vila since 2013 victory over Niue and second game against Solomon Islands after a 48-30 victory in Mackay in 2013.

VRL President Tom Carlo gave his thanks to Fr8 Logistics/DHL “We’d like to thank the management and staff of Fr8 Logistics/DHL for investing into the VRL. It is an extremely expensive exercise to play Test Matches in Vanuatu but we’re making a long-term investment to play and grow the game in Vanuatu and this is one part of our strategy. Fr8 Logistics/DHL have delivered for the VRL as they do for all of Vanuatu and we’d ask you to support the team that supports Vanuatu”.

The match will also feature Vanuatu’s own version of State of Origin with the Port Vila Fire Ants doing battle with the Santo Boars. This will be the fifth instalment of the fierce rivalry with the Fire Ants looking to make it five wins in a row, while the Boars will be looking to claim its first victory in what is sure to be another close contest as it has been for the other four games to date.

Tickets for the game against Solomon Islands are available for sale now at The Brewery Bar and FM107. Ticket Prices are 1,500 Vatu for the Grandstand and 500 Vatu for General Admission.

Match Details:

Venue: Port Vila Stadium

Gate Open: 12:30pm

Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars: 1:00pm

Fr8 Logistics/DHL Vanuatu Rugby League vs Solomon Islands: 3:30pm

VRL finishes on a high

Full-timePre-match

After a season where nothing went right for the Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) it all came together with a thrilling finish to the year. It took two attempts but the annual Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars finally took place recently (12th December) in Port Vila in a highly entertaining fixture in front of a vocal crowd.

After cancelled flights left the Port Vila team stranded just two weeks earlier, cancelling the first scheduled fixture, this time it was Santo heading to Port Vila to play in the 4th annual and first stand-alone fixture between these two great rivals. Santo were looking to end Port Vila’s three year domination, while Port Vila was looking to remain unbeaten in the contests.

The Fire Ants flew out of the blocks with a try in the 4th minute to Anro Kalpukai and conversion by Dominique Sablan to lead 6 – 0. The next 30 minutes were dominated by the Boars who raced to a 16-6 lead at the 38th minute mark with tries to Lester Kalpukai (9th minute), David Sablan (20th minute) and Waute Chicharau (34th minute) with Waute Chicharua successful with two of the three conversions.

The Boars were denied a deserved half-time lead with late tries to Dominique Sablan (38th minute) and a try right on half-time to Allan Avia (40th minute) with Alickson Napakaurana successful with one conversion to have the scores level at 16 all.

The Fire Ants started where they left off with their 3rd try in 5 minutes when Dominque Sablan crossed for his second try in the 41st minute. The arm wrestle continued and despite the best efforts of the Boars, they were unable to cross again against a more composed Fire Ants in the second half. Test players Sweeny Sablan (54th minute) and Dave Lolo (80th minute) crossed for further tries while Vanuatu’s youngest Test player Julian Wells added the sole conversion of the second half for the Fire Ants to run out 30-16 victors.

In the curtain raiser Ifira BB RL defeated Pango GB RL 62-0.

VRL President Tom Carlo was impressed with the fixture “It took a lot of effort to get the game up but it just shows you the determination of those involved with Rugby League in Vanuatu, especially those involved with the Boars and Fire Ants to ensure Rugby League has a successful future.

“This game was the catalyst to launch two rugby league competitions in Port Vila and Santo in 2016 but also continue to introduce the game in new markets such as we did in Tanna through our relationship with the New Zealand Police earlier this year.

“This year has also taught us a lot and we’re looking to finalise our new Strategic Plan to take us through to the 2019 Pacific Games with our end goal to not only represent Vanuatu but bring home a medal.”

The VRL has also been in talks with a number of nations about returning to Test football in 2016. This match was seen as the first of a number of selection fixtures leading into 2016 where the VRL are looking to pay a number of games. A number of players impressed the national selectors with Lester Kalpukai and Ian Willie Vuti voted the stand outs for Santo, while Dominque Sablan, Max Taleo, Dave Lolo and Allan Avia were voted Port Vila’s best.

Port Vila Fire Ants 30 (Dominque Sablan – 2, Anro Kalpukai, Allan Avia, Sweeny Sablan and Dave Lolo tries, Dominque Sablan, Alickson Napakaurana and Julian Wells conversion) defeated Santo Boars (Lester Kalpukai, Davido Sablan and Waute Chicharua tries and Waute Chicharau – 2 conversions).

Curtain-RaiserDominque Sablan