Bank South Pacific (BSP) has announced a major sponsorship of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Timed to coincide with 100 days out from the opening game on 15 October, the sponsorship will be backed by a marketing campaign and a series of events across BSP’s markets.
Mark Robinson, Group CEO at BSP, said the sponsorship “reflects our purpose to champion prosperity in the South Pacific by supporting a platform that unites the region and helps inspire communities and national pride.”
Five South Pacific nations are competing, with PNG hosting matches at the Santos National Football Stadium on 17 and 24 October.
BSP operates across PNG and the wider South Pacific region, positioning the sponsorship as a natural fit with its regional identity as “The South Pacific’s International Bank.”
Andrew Abdo, CEO of the National Rugby League, said BSP has been “a longstanding supporter of rugby league and the communities that sit at the heart of our game,” welcoming the bank as a major partner of the World Cup.
The PNG men’s team will face Lebanon and Samoa, while the women’s side will take on France and Fiji.
Banks across the Asia-Pacific region are increasingly using sport sponsorship to build community ties and reinforce regional identity, with BSP’s Rugby League World Cup deal reflecting a broader trend of financial institutions anchoring their brand to national pride.