USA rugby olympians inspire youth in Papua New Guinea 

The U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea, in partnership with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and Santos, hosted a week-long sports envoy program featuring American rugby players and Olympians, Cheta Emba and Andrew Durutalo.

From May 24 to 30, the program engaged and inspired local youth through rugby clinics, leadership workshops, and community events, promoting teamwork, resilience, and positive youth development. 

The initiative, planned by the U.S. Embassy, PNGRFL, and Santos, reached a range of audiences and highlighted how rugby and sport are important parts of Papua New Guinean and U.S. culture and community. 

Sports Diplomacy is one of the ways we can strengthen the relationship between the United States and Papua New Guinea, fostering mutual understanding. Passion for sports brings people together and highlights out shared values. 

“Leading up to the 50th Anniversary of Independence for PNG and 50 years of diplomatic relations, we like to say the U.S. and PNG have shared values, and a shared future,” ambassador Yastishock said.

“This sports envoy program exemplifies this, teaching values like leadership, teamwork, and communication skills essential for developing future leaders.” 

Emba and Durutalo led leadership workshops, skills clinics, and health discussions with schools and youth groups, including Red Scar High School. They also observed training sessions of the SP Hunters and Santos PNG Orchids, learned about stadium management, and met rugby figures like Stanley Hondina and Santo PNG Orchids star Mala Mark. 

Highlights included engagements with PNGRFL’s BETTER Rugby League development program, which supports young women through rugby skills sessions and personal development.

The U.S. envoys also connected with local rugby union players and officials including the Brothers, Crusaders, Wanderers and with the Valley Hunters learned about their Heart of Rugby initiative supporting life-saving heart surgeries.

The envoy also joined the Newtown Chiefs Sports Club and Jonah Kautu Academy program in two days of exhilarating coaching clinics with young kids and students at Red Scar High School in Central Province. 
 
Santos Senior Vice President for PNG Stakeholder Management, Wayne Kasou said: “From a platform of shared values and shared future, we thank the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby for this incredible opportunity to partner in a global initiative by the U.S Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

"Both Cheta and Andrew have been exceptional envoys. Their desire and willingness to visit local communities in Port Moresby and engage with youth and kids as young as five has been quite empowering and uplifting.

"This is sports diplomacy at its best serving as a bridge between our two countries. At Santos, we value the power of partnerships, especially those that will meaningfully engage our communities including young children, girls, women and youth. We have also seen how sports can transform lives and influence mindsets for the better and so, we continue to be the proud naming rights sponsor of the women’s national rugby league team, the Santos PNG Orchids and the Santos Cup – the first semi-professional rugby league competition for women in partnership with the PNGRFL.

"Furthermore, this partnership is also quite strategic given our connection to the U.S. through the Santos Pikka Project in Alaska and we remain a committed member of the American Chamber (AmCham) Coral Seas Chapter.” 

Cheta Emba is a member of the U.S. women’s national rugby team in both 7s and 15s. She is an assistant coach of the women’s rugby team at Harvard University. Andrew Durutalo is a retired professional rugby player with team USA. He is the Director of Rugby at the Washington Athletic Club in Seattle and serves on the Commercial Innovation Team for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. 

The U.S. Sports Diplomacy Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of State, connects professional athletes and coaches with global communities to foster collaboration, leadership, and mutual understanding.