Aussie rules may be a relatively new sport in Samoa, but it's long been a national sport in Nauru....
Papua New Guinea is the most experienced side in the Pacific and the Mosquitoes took on the best in the world in the final of the AFL international cup, here at the home of Aussie rules, the MCG.

Tania Nugent: They've come from around the globe….16 countries contesting the third Australian Football League international cup.

In round one, Nauru faces up against Papua New Guinea - runners up in the two previous tournaments.

Tania Nugent: AFL Queensland has taken PNG under its wing, working with players - as well as umpires and coaches - to improve the game. The under 14 and under 16 boys and girls national teams play in the Queensland state championships; under 18 boys try out for the North Queensland squad in Cairns and a number of talented players have won scholarships to play with Queensland clubs.

Gary Breust, is the PNG team’s tour manager: A lot of the kids that you see here that came down as youngsters and played down here obviously they’ve bulked up a lot, because they’ve worked out in the gym, they’re probably getting the right type of nutrition they need to play sport and that type of thing.

Nauru's been sending its best to play in the Victorian town of Stawell through the winter to revive Nauru's troubled domestic competition.

Nauru’s Sports Minister, Matthew Batsiua: It's a big learning experience for them and these people will be future administrators and football officials back in Nauru when we restart our competition

Nauru loses its first game, to PNG, but defeats the U.S. and Great Britain to fight the much taller Canadians for fifth place.

Nauru player, Agir Amwano: I can't believe we would beat the big country from the other side because our country is very small - what a feeling, look at them, wow.

Wes Illig is Nauru’s coach: Size has got nothing to do with football. We all know it's whether you've got heart and whether you're prepared to put your head over the ball. These boys might be small in stature but big hearts and strong as oxen and as brave as they come.

They'll take all this back start with the next generation of kids and hopefully we’ll get footy back on the island and get rid of some of the problems we've had.

Agir Amwano: Football is like a war. Now maybe these boys and I will make a change, make it a great game.

Tania Nugent: PNG wins through to its third cup final to take on the reigning champions.
New Zealand leads right through to the last quarter until Papua New Guinea edges ahead by 2 points with minutes to go. With a free kick after the siren the Mosquitoes win the cup by 8 points.

Alistair Sioni: I'm absolutely out of words right now but it's awesome, it's totally awesome. We just put Papua New Guinea back on the map.
Rex Leka: It's a kids' dream, I tell you, it’s a kid’s dream, to get out here and to play, to wear our national colours.
Alistair Sioni: That's for our country, that's for our country

Kevin Sheedy, AFL International Ambassador: What are the opportunities for a player in New Guinea to play soccer in the world, not great, rugby yes, obviously…a tall running athlete, AFL.

Andrew Cadzow is PNG coach and head of AFL development in Oceania: Probably the most improved side in the international cup is Nauru - they were magnificent. Of course Tonga and Samoa were here. Talent wise, coaching and education, we are really going to invest a lot of money and resources across the region because we think it's a real opportunity. Kids want to play the game we want to give them the opportunity to play the game.