Visa strikes deal with Kumuls, putting PNG rugby league on global stage

In a first for Papua New Guinea sports, global payments giant Visa has signed a three-year platinum partnership with the PNG LNG Kumuls, marking a historic breakthrough that elevates rugby league and the country onto the world stage.

The sponsorship, running from 2025 to 2028, is the first time a major international brand has directly partnered with a PNG national team.

PNGRFL Chairman Sandis Tsaka hailed the deal as a defining moment for both sport and nation.
“This partnership is not just about rugby league, it is about Papua New Guinea’s place in the global arena,” Tsaka said. “Visa’s sponsorship of the PNG LNG Kumuls is a testament to the growth of the game from grassroots to the elite level and a powerful signal that PNG is ready for world-class investment and partnerships.”

Visa’s iconic logo will feature on the Kumuls’ jerseys and training uniforms, with the partnership set to carry the team through the Pacific Bowl Championships and the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, co-hosted by PNG and Australia.

Visa Country Manager for New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, Anthony Watson, said the company was backing not just a team, but a nation.

“Visa’s sponsorship of the PNG Kumuls is more than a partnership, it’s a commitment to Papua New Guinea’s future,” Watson said.

“Rugby league unites communities across the country, and we’re proud to stand with the Kumuls as they inspire pride and progress. With mobile technology rising and a bold national vision for digital inclusion, PNG is poised for transformation and Visa is here to help unlock that potential.”

For PNG, where rugby league is a way of life, the partnership underscores the sport’s unique role in uniting people and shaping futures. It also signals that the world’s biggest brands now see value in aligning with PNG for sport and nation-building.