ABC Radio Australia has signed a three-year deal to broadcast coverage of the National Rugby League men's and women's competitions to audiences in PNG, Timor-Leste and across the Pacific.

Starting this week, ABC Radio Australia will broadcast ABC Grandstand's live coverage of the NRL finals as well as the women's competition – the NRLW –  and the State of Origin series.

Head of International Strategy, David Hua, said the ABC was the only Australian radio broadcaster providing coverage of the NRL to a region that is passionate about the sport.

“NRL is PNG's most popular sport and one of the leading sports across the Pacific,” he said.  “Almost half of the current NRL players have Pacific Island heritage which means there is an incredibly high interest in the competition right across the region.”

The start of the NRL coverage coincides with the launch of a new ABC Radio Australia Pacific sports show Can You Be More Pacific, hosted by Fijian-Australian comedians Joseph 'Roq' Rokoqo and Ratu 'Cav' Cavuilati.  The one-hour show will broadcast on ABC Radio Australia on Thursday evenings at 6.00pm PNG time from 8 October.

Radio Australia is on the following frequencies across the Pacific.

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