The Latin America Heat, featuring players from Argentina, Mexico, Chile, Uruguay and El Salvador, were just one of the teams competing for the first time in the NSW Rugby League and NRL Community annual Australian Technology Park Redfern Harmony Nines tournament at Sydney University in a celebration of the cultural diversity of rugby league.
The fourth annual round-robin competition featured more than 180 players from 12 under-18s development teams representing a wide range of nationalities with Malta RL, Mediterranean RL, Cook Islands, Federation Italian RL Australia and PCYC Africa United among those to join Latin America Heat. The Mediterranean team this year included players from Syria, Palestine, Jordan, Israel and Iraq.
A number of league legends and ambassadors, including former South Sydney winger Nathan Merritt and Penrith and Manly forward Joe Galuvao, were in attendance across the day, which also featured activities for the whole family including cultural performances from participating teams, music, food, sports clinics and a jumping castle.
David Trodden, Chief Executive of the NSWRL, said tournaments such as the Redfern Harmony Nines highlighted the positive influence rugby league has on the community.
“It’s a real pleasure for the New South Wales Rugby League, in conjunction with NRL Community, to be running an event like the Harmony Nines,” Trodden said.
“The tournament is a fantastic reflection of the significant impact the greatest game of all has on so many people – and not just those people from Australia.
“Participating sides, from a range of backgrounds including Fiji, Samoa, Latin America and Africa, show that rugby league has a huge following from communities based right around the world.
“The Harmony Nines is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate just that.”
Congratulations to South Sydney Indigenous on winning their second consecutive Redfern Harmony Nines title.
Pool Results:
Pool 1:
South Sydney Indigenous 24 defeated Malta 12
South Sydney Indigenous 34 defeated Latin Heat 6
Malta 16 defeated Latin Heat 8
Pool 2:
Mediterranean-Middle East 12 defeated NSWRL Young Achievers 10
Cook Islands 24 defeated Mediterranean-Middle East 14
Cook Islands 20 defeated NSWRL Young Achievers 12
Pool 3:
Young Azzurri Italia 20 defeated NSW Maori 8
Australian Fiji Koroisau 30 defeated NSW Maori 4
Australian Fiji Koroisau 14 defeated Young Azzurri Italia 8
Pool 4:
Samoa 24 defeated Australian Fijian Naigama 16
Samoa 16 defeated PCYC Africa United 8
Australian Fijian Naigama 8 defeated PCYC Africa United 0
Tournament Finals:
Quarter Finals:
Samoa 24 defeated Young Azzurri Italia 20
South Sydney Indigenous 30 defeated Mediterranean-Middle East 14
Australian Fijian Naigama 26 defeated Australian Fiji Koroisau 24
Cook Islands 28 defeated Malta 8
Semi Finals:
South Sydney Indigenous 16 defeated Cook Islands 8
Australian Fijian Naigama 28 defeated Samoa 16
Final:
South Sydney Indigenous 19 defeated Australian Fijian Naigama 18
Tournament Plate Finals:
Plate Semi Finals:
NSWRL Young Achievers 20 defeated Latin Heat 12
NSW Maori 16 defeated PCYC Africa United 4
Plate Final:
NSW Maori 16 defeated NSWRL Young Achievers 10
