31 Jan 2015

Sport: Rugby League Nines World Series proposed

11:39 am on 31 January 2015

A rugby league nines World Series is being proposed as the shorter form of the game continues to expand its global reach.

While much of the focus this weekend will be on the star-studded NRL Auckland Nines, 32 teams from five continents and the Pacific are in Sydney for the 13th edition of the Cabramatta International Nines.

Niue, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and American Samoa are all flying the Pacific flag, while there are also teams from Europe, Australia, Asia, North and South American.

The founder and coach of the Philippines team, Clayton Watene, says what's happening at Cabramatta could be the start of something even bigger.

"I can see it going to like the rugby clubrooms like a sevens network. I reckon we can have more and more interest coming on board, more and more sponsors and things like that. I can see it going like a full nines circuit. Why not? Especially with the NRL nines making it a lot more popular for us as well".

The Cabramatta tournament kicks off at the St Mary's Leagues Stadium in the Blue Mountains later this morning.