Port Moresby, May 30, 2025 – The U.S. Embassy in Papua New Guinea collaborated with the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football League (PNGRFL) and Santos to host a week-long sports envoy program. American rugby players and Olympians Cheta Emba and Andrew Durutalo participated in the initiative from May 24 to 30, engaging local youth through rugby clinics, leadership workshops, and community events.
The program aimed to highlight the significance of rugby and sports within both Papua New Guinean and U.S. cultures. It was designed to strengthen relations between the United States and Papua New Guinea by promoting mutual understanding through sports diplomacy.
“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,” said Ambassador Yastishock. “This sports envoy program exemplifies this, teaching values like leadership, teamwork, and communication skills essential for developing future leaders.”
Emba and Durutalo conducted leadership workshops, skills clinics, and health discussions with schools such as Red Scar High School. They also observed training sessions of teams like SP Hunters and Santos PNG Orchids while learning about stadium management.
Key engagements included interactions with PNGRFL’s BETTER Rugby League development program that supports young women through rugby skills sessions. The envoys connected with local rugby union players from teams such as Brothers, Crusaders, Wanderers, Valley Hunters, Newtown Chiefs Sports Club, and Jonah Kautu Academy.
Wayne Kasou from Santos stated: “From a platform of shared values and shared future, we thank the U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby for this incredible opportunity... Their desire... has been quite empowering... This is sports diplomacy at its best serving as a bridge between our two countries."
Cheta Emba is part of the U.S. women’s national rugby team in both 7s and 15s formats while also serving as an assistant coach at Harvard University. Andrew Durutalo is a retired professional player who now works as Director of Rugby at Washington Athletic Club in Seattle.
The U.S. Sports Diplomacy Program aims to connect professional athletes with global communities fostering collaboration through initiatives led by the U.S Department of State's Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs.