From the classroom to the field: Learning respect, teamwork and leadership through rugby league | NRL In League In Harmony

2026 Sports Medal, sponsored by Sydney Thunder.

On the football field, students call out to each other as they run drills and practise passing.

Some have never played before. Some have never spoken much to their teammates.

But within minutes, they are working together – listening, encouraging and learning to rely on one another.

The game is only part of what they are here for.

As part of the Multicultural NSW COMPACT Alliance, the NRL are proud to partner alongside Moving Forward Together and the Institute for Economics and Peace.

The National Rugby League’s In League In Harmony (ILIH) program uses structured classroom activities and modified rugby league games to help students build confidence, communication skills, and stronger relationships across cultural and social differences. Jake Brightwell, the NRL’s Program Lead, says the program reflects the organisation’s commitment to inclusion and respect.

“Sport has a unique ability to bring people together,” Jake said.

“We use rugby league to help young people understand each other better and learn how to work together.”

The program runs in schools over six weeks. Each session combines classroom learning with physical activity.

In the classroom, students take part in guided discussions and practical exercises.

Students learn to celebrate their diversity, appreciate different ideas and working together in a team to achieve a common goal. On the field, they apply those lessons through modified rugby league games such as League Tag.

The activities are designed so students of all abilities can take part. The focus is on cooperation, effort, and respect.

At week seven, students come together at an In League In Harmony Gala Day.

They meet peers from other schools, form new connections, and apply everything they have learned in a broader social setting.

Those who demonstrate strong leadership are selected as Peace Advocates and invited to take part in further training.

Working with their teachers, they design projects that promote inclusion in their own schools.

With grant funding available to support successful proposals, students can turn their ideas into real change.

“By bringing students from different backgrounds together, we see barriers break down and stronger relationships form,” Jake said.

“Teachers are telling us they notice fewer playground conflicts and more friendships across cultural groups.”

For many participants, the change is personal. Students who were quiet become more confident. Groups that rarely mixed begin working together.

“They’re not just learning about respect and teamwork,” Jake said.

“They’re practising it every week.”

By reframing sport as a pathway to understanding and social connection, In League In Harmony is helping young people develop the skills to lead with empathy, confidence and inclusion.

“The lessons don’t just remain on the field,” Jake said.

“They carry into classrooms, friendships, and communities across New South Wales.”

NRL In League In Harmony is the winner of the 2026 Sports Medal.