China is top of mind for Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) as it begins deliberations around whether to put a team in the South Pacific region—the centre of a geopolitical tug-of-war between Beijing and democratic nations.
The move to grant a license to a “Pasifika” club would be the latest “soft power” initiative by the Australian government to win the hearts and minds of local populations, alongside existing free-to-air TV broadcasts, aid programs, and supporting infrastructure building.
