The National Rugby League (NRL) is seeking millions of dollars from Australia's federal government to introduce rugby league in Pacific Islands schools, including Tonga.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported the NRL wants the sport to be number one in the region.

At its annual general meeting last Friday, the 16 NRL clubs were advised of ongoing negotiations with the federal government to fund league programs in Pacific Island schools to foster better relationships with Australia.

The NRL also aims for the sport to be considered the national game in Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and the Cook Islands, like it is in Papua New Guinea.

Around 45 per cent of NRL players are estimated to be of Pacific Island heritage, with this number likely to increase in future.

With young players going through proper development pathways in their countrys, the NRL hopes to see Fiji, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and PNG rise up to become international powerhouses like Tonga.

Tonga heads its own pool in the upcoming World Cup to be held in England later this year.

Meanwhile, a rugby league team from Fiji, Kaiviti Silktails, will join the New South Wales Ron Massey Cup competition in Sydney, with the goal to take part in the New South Wales Cup in future.

The Australian federal government is primarily financing them, after the entire team agreed to stay in Sydney for seven months due to CoViD-19.