Rescheduled Port Vila-Santo game full of greater meaning

The Port Vila Fire Ants and Santo Boars are playing for much more than pride on Saturday December 12; they are playing to secure the future of rugby league in Vanuatu.

The Fire Ants will host the Boars in the capital Port Vila this Saturday seeking a fourth consecutive win over the Boars but more importantly to take up a rare opportunity to play the game that they love. This match has been rescheduled after the Fire Ants were left stranded in Port Vila after several cancelled flights meant the team was unable to travel to Espiritu-Santo for the planned fixture in November.

The fourth meeting between the two representative teams could not have come at a more important time as the after-effects of Cyclone Pam and exclusion of the Vanuatu Rugby League team from the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea has made it next to impossible for any rugby league to be played on the Pacific island in 2015.

In recent years the Vanuatu national team have played matches against the Solomon Islands, Niue, Greece and the Philippines but no international opposition could be found in 2015, making the annual Port Vila-Santo clash one of critical importance.

“It has been a struggle but we’ve managed to get the game to go ahead on the 12th which we see as the re-launch of sorts of the game in Vanuatu,” said Vanuatu Rugby League president Mr Tom Carlo.

“If the game had not gone ahead we had grave concerns for the future of the game at a domestic level and full credit must go to both the Fire Ants and Boars who have ensured this fixture happened despite the many setbacks.

“By not being able to participate in the Pacific Games this year we lost a lot of the momentum we had built up in recent years so it was imperative for the continued development of rugby league in Vanuatu that this game went ahead.

“It hasn’t been easy and it has taken a great deal of dedication from both players and officials but we’re delighted that on Saturday we will once again see the Fire Ants and Boars do battle.”

Santo played an exhibition game in November when the Port Vila team couldn’t travel and both squads have continued to train despite doubts over whether the match would go ahead

“Considering they have had very few opportunities to play this year the dedication of the boys from both teams to keep training and developing their skills has been tremendous,” said Brett Wright, strength and conditioning coach for the Vanuatu national team.

“Given the efforts they have made this year to not have staged this game would have been devastating but now we can look forward to a quality contest between two teams who simply love their rugby league.”

Not yet a full member of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation, Mr Carlo said that Vanuatu Rugby League will do everything it can to make sure the national team is once again given the opportunity to represent Vanuatu in 2016.

“We have been heartened by the progress of the likes of Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands since the 2013 World Cup and we are determined to also represent the Pacific in international rugby league,” Mr Carlo said.

“There is no question this has been a difficult year but we have the players and the passion to move the game forward.

“On the back of Saturday’s game between Port Vila and Santo we are confident that Vanuatu Rugby League will emerge bigger and better in 2016.”

Match Details:

Date: Saturday December 12th, 2015

Venue: Stade de Municipal

Curtain-Raiser: 1pm (Pango Rugby League vs Ifira Rugby League

Main Game: 3pm (Port Vila Fire Ants vs Santo Boars)

Entry: 300 Vatu (100 Vatu for students and free entry for U/12’s)

Vanuatu Rugby League stronger despite setback

It was billed as the rebirth of rugby league in Vanuatu yet the annual Port Vila v Santo clash promises to unite a nation passionate about rugby league despite not going ahead.

In what has been a year to forget for the game in Vanuatu, the latest blow threatened to be the most devastating of all with the cancellation of flights over several days leaving the vast majority of Port Vila players stranded.

As a result, only four Fire Ants players already in Santo were available to take the field and combined with the entire Santo Boars training squad so that a game – any kind of game – could go ahead.

Players such as Noel Sweni from Port Vila ran onto the ground in Espiritu-Santo wearing his Fire Ants shorts, a borrowed Santo Boars jersey and his Vanuatu national socks, all so that he could play the game he loves.

Such is the determination of those in Vanuatu to see the game succeed that not even a cyclone, omission from the Pacific Games or this latest setback could quell their energy.

It was decided that the makeshift game would serve as the first selection trial for the national team for 2016 and there is a resolve to bring the Santo team to Port Vila before the end of the year so that the Boars and Fire Ants can play the game they were promised.

“After all my years in sport, I really don’t think I have ever felt the way I did on Saturday,” said Port Vila-based Brett Wright, strength and conditioning coach of the Vanuatu national team.

“After all the time, effort, sacrifice and hard work from every player, trainer, coach, administrator, board member, sponsor, footy fan, friends and family involved in the lead up – which was just over 12 months – it was absolutely devastating to have it taken away from us the way it was.

“The players put their minds, body and souls on the line for this game and absolutely ripped in.

“It was devastating to watch my Port Vila boys run out in Santo colours but the bigger picture was that we were all doing it for Vanuatu Rugby League.

“I can honestly tell you that the strength of bond between Port Vila and Santo has never been greater.

“The game could absolutely not have gone ahead even in the manner it did if it weren’t for the tireless efforts of Kevin, Therese and Shirley Henderson in Santo and we’ll do everything we can to bring the Boars across to play the game all these players deserve.”

Port Vila-Santo game full of meaning

Fire AntsSanto Boars

The Port Vila Fire Ants and Santo Boars are playing for much more than pride on Saturday November 21; they are playing to secure the future of rugby league in Vanuatu.

The Fire Ants will travel to Espiritu-Santo this Saturday seeking a fourth consecutive win over the Boars but more importantly to take up a rare opportunity to play the game that they love.

The fourth meeting between the two representative teams could not have come at a more important time as the after-effects of Cyclone Pam and exclusion of the Vanuatu Rugby League team from the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea has made it next to impossible for any rugby league to be played on the Pacific island in 2015.

In recent years the Vanuatu national team have played matches against the Solomon Islands, Niue, Greece and the Philippines but no international opposition could be found in 2015, making the annual Port Vila-Santo clash one of critical importance.

“It has been a struggle but we’ve managed to get the game to go ahead on the 21st which we see as the re-launch of sorts of the game in Vanuatu,” said Vanuatu Rugby League president Mr Tom Carlo.

“If the game had not gone ahead we had grave concerns for the future of the game at a domestic level.

“By not being able to participate in the Pacific Games this year we lost a lot of the momentum we had built up in recent years so it was imperative for the continued development of rugby league in Vanuatu that this game went ahead.

“It hasn’t been easy and it has taken a great deal of dedication from both players and officials but we’re delighted that on Saturday we will once again see the Fire Ants and Boars do battle.”

Members of the Port Vila team have been conducting fundraising events in recent weeks in order to make the game a reality and have continued to train despite doubts over whether the match would go ahead.

“Considering they have had very few opportunities to play this year the dedication of the boys from both teams to keep training and developing their skills has been tremendous,” said Brett Wright, strength and conditioning coach for the Vanuatu national team.

“Given the efforts they have made this year to not have staged this game would have been devastating but now we can look forward to a quality contest between two teams who simply love their rugby league.”

Not yet a full member of the Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation, Mr Carlo said that Vanuatu Rugby League will do everything it can to make sure the national team is once again given the opportunity to represent Vanuatu in 2016.

“We have been heartened by the progress of the likes of Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands since the 2013 World Cup and we are determined to also represent the Pacific in international rugby league,” Mr Carlo said.

“There is no question this has been a difficult year but we have the players and the passion to move the game forward.

“On the back of Saturday’s game between Port Vila and Santo we are confident that Vanuatu Rugby League will emerge bigger and better in 2016.”

Vanuatu eager to keep pace in Pacific

Premiership Winner

The Vanuatu Rugby League (VRL) remain determined to further cement their place in Pacific rugby league and they hope to use the exploits of Cowboys’ grand final-winning hero Justin O’Neill to do so.

With the announcement that Papua New Guinea will host matches of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the emergence of Tonga and Samoa has genuine challengers to rugby league’s traditional superpowers interest in Pacific rugby league has never been greater.

Vanuatu is one of the relative newcomers to the international scene but with a proud history of producing some of the game’s greatest talents represents a fertile breeding ground for rugby league.

The island is still recovering from the devastation of Cyclone Pam earlier this year but those behind Vanuatu Rugby League both in Vanuatu and in Australia are determined to see the annual Port Vila Fire Ants v Santo Boars game go ahead next month.

Playing opportunities for keen rugby league players have been scarce in Vanuatu this season which is why national coach David Simpson believes it is important that those who have been training for months actually get to take to the field.

“The Port Vila v Santo game will be a great showcase of the local talent we have in Vanuatu but we need sponsorship in order to make sure it goes ahead,” said Simpson, who takes over from Kim Williams as head coach of the Mackay Cutters in 2016.

“The locally-based players in Vanuatu have had very few opportunities to play this year but still they keep training and if we can’t provide regular games for them I’m concerned they will one day soon leave rugby league, the game that they love.

“Rugby league greats such as Mal Meninga have strong family ties to Vanuatu and we have to make sure that rugby league is given a real opportunity to grow and develop the fine athletes we regularly produce.

“With Papua New Guinea to host matches in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Vanuatu Rugby League needs to strengthen its position over the next two years so that perhaps we can take part in warm-up matches with other Pacific nations.”

Named Most Improved Player at North Queensland’s presentation night last week, a maiden appearance for Vanuatu by O’Neill would represent a significant moment for the sport in that country.

His performances throughout the finals series where he scored two tries against the Storm and another in the grand final were followed closely by rugby league fans in Vanuatu.

Justin’s older brother Paul has already represented Vanuatu and Simpson is looking forward to the day when the pair and youngest brother Samsen all represent the Vanuatu heritage of their mother, Nicole.

“We’re so proud of what Justin has been able to achieve this year with the Cowboys and we’d love to think we will soon see him wearing the colours of Vanuatu in a Test match,” Simpson said.

“We have made significant strides in recent years and Justin has been a great supporter of our efforts but we need to push forward now so that there are more opportunities for Vanuatu to play international matches.

“We won’t have that opportunity this year but if the Port Vila v Santo game can go ahead then I’m confident that in 12 months time the Vanuatu national team will once again take to the field.”

The VRL is on the lookout for sponsors for both teams and the event and any interested parties should contact VRL President Tom Carlo on +678 711 5275 or email vanuaturl@outlook.com.

This Saturday also sees Tonga play the Cooks Islands with the winner to qualify for the final Pacific spot at the 2017 World Cup with games to be played across Australia, New Zealand and PNG. The winner will join Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Fiji and Samoa that have already qualified from the Pacific region. The match can be live streamed on NRL.com.

You can also follow the VRL, Fire Ants and Boars on Facebook.

Vanuatu’s links to Grand Final combatants

Sunday’s Telstra Premiership Grand Final between the Broncos and Cowboys is not only dividing Queensland but also the tiny Pacific nation of Vanuatu.

The historic all-Queensland Grand Final will be played in front of an expected sell-out crowd of 83,000 at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium while millions more will tune in across 100 countries to see who will lift the Provan-Summons Trophy in 2015.

The blistering speed that saw Justin O’Neill score twice for the Cowboys in their Preliminary Final win over the Storm is largely attributed to his mother Nicole who hails from Santo and represented Vanuatu in the 100 and 200 metres at the South Pacific Games.

O’Neill has twice tasted grand final success previously at the Olympic Stadium, winning the 2012 NRL title with the Storm as well as under-20s premiership with Melbourne in 2009.

But O’Neill is not the only person involved on grand final day with strong ties to Vanuatu Rugby League.

Broncos high performance manager Jeremy Hickmans has played a key role working with and mentoring VRL’s head of high performance, Brett Wright, who has also trained a number of other national teams and was a coach for Vanuatu at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“It is fantastic to know we have Vanuatu connection on both sides of NRL’s biggest game,” said Vanuatu Rugby League president Tom Carlo.

“On one side we have a fantastic role model in Justin O’Neill and on the other side Jeremy Hickmans who is doing a lot behind the scenes for the VRL and providing Brett Wright with some fantastic professional development opportunities.

“Through the VRL connection, twice Brett has been given opportunities to spend time working with Jeremy at the Broncos and learn from the best.

“Not only will Brett be able to bring back what he has learnt to the VRL but it will also benefit Vanuatu sport as a whole where Brett can impart that knowledge to the other national and Olympic teams and athletes he works with.”

While NRL commitments and injuries have prevented O’Neill from making his debut for Vanuatu he has given up his time to act as a trainer and mentor younger players in the past.

When he makes his debut he will be the second O’Neill after older brother Paul to play for Vanuatu and it is expected the youngest brother Samsen will also debut in the coming years.

After Cyclone Pam devastated Vanuatu earlier this year the fledgling rugby league community has struggled to re-establish playing opportunities for keen footballers eager to channel their energies into rugby league.

The NRL and Queensland Rugby League were both significant contributors to UNICEF’s Vanuatu appeal in April and the VRL are determined to proceed with the annual clash between the Port Vila Fire Ants and Santo Boars in November.

The VRL is on the lookout for sponsors for both teams and the event and any interested parties should contact VRL President Tom Carlo on +678 711 5275 or email vanuaturl@outlook.com.

You can also follow the VRL, Fire Ants and Boars on Facebook.

Justin O'Neill and National Squad Member Robert Franklin in the dressing rooms on Sunday after Melbourne's 30-10 victory over St.George Illawarra Dragons. Robert attended the match and viewed first hand Justin's two tries.

Justin O’Neill and National Squad Member Robert Franklin