65 nations represented in Australia's most diverse sporting code

Wests Tigers second-rower Alex Seyfarth has an English mother and grandparents from Spain, Sri Lanka and Slovenia.

Bulldogs winger Marcelo Montoya was born in Fiji and has grandparents from Chile and Cuba, while Broncos prop Payne Haas and his brother Klese, who plays for the Titans, have grandparents born in Samoa, Switzerland and Philippines.

Sea Eagles speedster Jason Saab has Indigenous, Lebanese and Nigerian heritage, while Broncos NRLW star Annetta-Claudia Nu’uausala was born in New Zealand to Samoan parents and has a Chinese grandparent.

These are just a handful of examples of the diversity that makes the NRL and NRLW the most multi-cultural sporting code in Australia.

"My grandfather was born in Sri Lanka, he moved over to England and my mum was born over there," Seyfarth said.

"When my grandfather came over here, he was a chef, he had a restaurant in Redfern, so he’s quite a good cook and I had a bit of spicy foods growing up.

"My dad’s side is my Slovenian heritage so I’m pretty mixed multiculturally. Since they came to Australia, I call myself Australian and it’s given us a great life here. It’s a great country to live in and we’ve got endless opportunities here.

"Growing up it was more my mum’s side, the Sri Lankan side and the English side, just the food, the family events where we all lived together and recognised where we come from.

In total, there are 65 different nations represented across the 2025 NRL and NRLW playing squads - the highest number since records have been kept.

They are American Samoa, Antigua, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Burundi, Canada, Chile, China, Congo, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, England, Fiji, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niue, Norway, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Samoa, Scotland, Serbia, Seychelle Islands, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Vincent, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tokelau Islands, Tonga, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Virgin Islands, Wales, Zimbabwe.

Almost a third of NRL players were born overseas and almost half of the overall playing group - 226 players or 47 per cent - have at least one parent born overseas.

Those numbers are even higher in the NRLW, with 34 per cent of players being born overseas 56 percent having at least one parent born overseas.

In addition, 14 per cent of NRL players and 17 per cent of NRLW players identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

A further 11 per cent of players are of Māori descent.

With players of Pasifika heritage comprising 52 per cent of all NRL talent, it is not surprising that 29 per cent have at least one parent born in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga or other Pacific islands, such as Niue and Vanuatu.

Among them is Sharks centre Kayal Iro, who was born in England, where his father Kevin was playing in the Super League, and grew up in the Cook Islands before moving to New Zealand to finish high school.

Iro is proud of his Cook Islands heritage and has represented the Aitu in 10 Tests.

“It means everything to me, it’s my pride and culture,” Iro told NRL.com. “Everyone back home is supporting me and watching me. I want to let them know that I’m repping them and making sure that I put my best foot forward for my country.”

Cronulla launched their 2025 premiership campaign with a multicultural night at Sharks Stadium, in which players from the club’s NRL, NRLW and junior pathways teams celebrated their heritage.

With players representing 46 countries, the Sharks have created a banner featuring each flag that is hung in the tunnel at home games before they run out to play.

“Whatever culture you are, just be proud of who you are,” said Sharks forward Hohepa Puru, who has an Indigenous father and Māori mother.

“Live and breathe your culture and be proud of whatever you are, whether you are Tongan, Samoan, Sri Lankan, Fijian … I get emotional when I talk about culture because it is a feeling you get, you are emotionally connected to people.”