Singapore to help revive game in Vanuatu with international double header
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Singapore Memerang are hoping to maintain the momentum from their Asian Championships triumph as they help to revive international rugby league in Vanuatu ahead of the launch of their own domestic competition.
After beating Japan and Philippines in their first international fixtures to win last November’s inaugural Asian Championships in Manila, the Memerang will take on Vanuatu in Port Vila on June 6.
The match is the first international played in Vanuatu since 2014 and Dane Campbell – the former Knights halfback come Perth Bears recruitment manager who founded the game in the Pacific nation – returns as Singapore coach.
Vanuatu will be coached by Cameron Meninga, the brother of Perth Bears coach and rugby league Immortal Mal Meninga.
“For us it is a chance to test ourselves against a Pacific opposition and with Vanuatu having been in hiatus for a number of years this is a really great opportunity to assist them in their redevelopment of the game domestically by playing a game at international level over there,” Campbell said.
The Memerang had a three-day training camp in Brisbane before flying to Port Vila and will give debuts to Singapore-based players Izdihar Azmi, Lucas Dulat, Oisin McCann, Leon Loh and Jordan Spencer, as well as Australian-based Judah Jury.
South Sydney Rabbitohs Jersey Flegg halfback Tyler Berryman and Tuggeranong Bushrangers hooker Liam Oakley are among the players from the 2025 Asian Championships who are unavailable due to playing commitments in Australia.
The team will feature a number of returning players such as captain Wayne Baxter; brothers Liam, Connor and Fynn Postlethwaite and experienced players Tyreeq Salleh-Meadows, Tyrell Anton, Jake Tobin and Tom Chamberlain.
“We have got probably about 70 per cent of our squad from Manila back but we have a couple of big outs,” Campbell said.
“I guess the opportunity has presented itself for some young guys from Singapore who we are really excited about and there are some Australian-based players of Singaporean heritage who will be playing for us too.
“We are building the player pool, and this is a great opportunity for those guys to push their claims for the end of year internationals.”
Singapore Rugby League, which is working towards International Rugby League membership, will launch its first domestic season in August, with strong interest after the success of the Memerang in the Asian Championships.
The Singapore Sunbirds women’s team will make their international debut in a nine’s match against Vanuatu in Port Vila.
“On the back of this international we will launch our domestic competition which is set to feature three and possibly a fourth team at the start of August,” Campbell said.
“It will run for a six-week duration and on the back of this match we are hoping that there will be a groundswell of interest in playing after this international.
“We have had a really good response from players, administrators and sponsors, as well as media in Singapore, which is very exciting for us.
“We feel as though this is our next step, getting back on the international stage and keeping the momentum that we created at the back end of last year so we can launch into our domestic season.
"Then hopefully at the end of this year go back to Manila and have a crack at defending the Asian Championships.”
Singapore Memerang
1. Jake Tobin
2. Izzy Azmi
3. Connor Postlewaite
4. Wayne Baxter (c)
5. Cuba Cleaven-Vanderlaak
6. Edward Negus
7. Tiernan O’Rourke
8. Tyrell Anton
9. Tom Chamberlain
10. Tyreeq Salleh-Meadows
11. Liam Postlethwaite
12. Lucas Dulat
13. Brendan Liu
14. Judah Jury
15. Fynn Postlethwaite
16. Oisin McCann
17. Leon Loh
18. Jordan Spencer
For the Sunbirds, this will be the first time the newly formed women’s national team will get to represent the red of Singapore on the international stage, with a 9-a-side format against an experienced Vanuatu team.
Sunbirds coach Phill Browne has been able to select a group of players from both Singapore, including Aqilah Adriana, Loo Zi Jia and Eunice Chu, and players of Singaporean heritage now residing in Australia, Nicohl Parekalam, Talia Berryman and Lilly Pickering.
Singapore Sunbirds
- Aqilah Adriana
- Chloe Bromage
- Eunice Chu
- Grace Thomas
- Harmani Taylor
- Kaitlin Koh
- Lilly Pickering
- Loo Zi Jia
- Miuki Murakami
- Nicohl Parekalam (c)
- Sherienne Koh
- Talia Berryman
Match Officials for the historic event will be New Zealander Liam O’Brien (men’s game) and Australian Andrew Charles (women’s game).
The Singapore Sunbirds will face the Vanuatu women’s team in an extended nine-a-side game at 1:30pm local time (10:30am SGT/12:30pm AEST), whilet the Memerang will face the Vanuatu men’s team at 3pm local time (12pm SGT/2pm AEST).
