Learning how community-based sport committees can be better administered, Rugby League club representatives from Tongatapu took part in a Sports in Community Course last week. Men and women, coaches, committee members and volunteers learned what makes a successful sports club and to how to effectively organise and deliver an event.

The course from 21-23 September held at Ancient Tonga was run by educators from the Oceania Sport Education Program (OSEP), Netina Latu Vea, Vaisioa Tahi who were assisted by ‘Ofa Pakalani. It was organised by NRL Tonga Country Manager Tavake Fangupo, with funding from the Australian High Commission.

Tavake said the participants engaged in discussions, brainstormed and self-reflected on how community-based sport committees can be better administered. 

Participants were trained in how they can start a Rugby League club properly and how to sustain it. 

Sateki Lea from Ma’ufanga said, he works as a volunteer, organising a group of young boys to participate in rugby league tournaments.

"I’m so pleased to learn how to eventually start a club properly, set it up by selecting the right people for different roles and hopefully finding the right partners to support our growth," he said.

Sport education is important for the industry and it is important to educate people at all levels.

NRL Tonga aims to run similar courses in the future in collaboration with TASANOC and ONOC, not just for rugby league clubs but for other sport federations as well.  

The OSEP program is a joint initiative of the Government of Australia, the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC), and the Organisations of Sports Federations of Oceania (OSFO) to support the training and development of Sport volunteers and Professionals with the Pacific region.