NFL Touches Down in Fiji for Flag Football Expansion

The National Football League (NFL) has officially launched its first community outreach in Fiji, marking a milestone in the league’s strategic Asia-Pacific expansion.

The visit, which commenced this week, features a series of “Come and Try” clinics and coaching accreditation programs designed to establish a permanent footprint for Flag Football in the Pacific ahead of its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.

The delegation, led by NFL Australia & New Zealand general manager, Charlotte Offord, includes Australian-born Denver Broncos tight end Patrick Murtagh. Murtagh, a product of the International Player Pathway (IPP) program, is serving as a global ambassador to help identify the region’s next generation of elite crossover athletes.

The NFL stated following the opening session in Suva, saying: “Building sustainable pathways and empowering local leaders is how we create lasting impact, and today was a powerful first step.”

“We brought the game to Suva and the response was incredible, with over 300 youth eager to learn the fundamentals of flag football,” the organisation said.

The Pacific Frontier

The expansion into Fiji follows the NFL’s announcement of a record nine international regular-season games in 2026, including a historic debut in Melbourne, Australia. 

During his school visit in Suva, Patrick Murtagh, who transitioned from the AFL to the NFL, noted the natural synergy between Fijian sporting culture and American Football.

“The energy and serious talent on the field here is exactly what we’re looking for.”

“We want to give these kids a path to the biggest stage in the world,” Suva noted.

The initiative is supported by the U.S. Embassy in Suva and various local government agencies, underscoring the “soft diplomacy” value of the NFL’s international program. With more clinics scheduled for Lautoka and Sigatoka later this week, the NFL is positioning Fiji as a central hub for its broader Oceania operations.

Strategic Pathway Development

The Fiji mission is built on a two-tier commercial and athletic strategy: driving mass participation through Flag Football while scouting elite talent for the NFL Academy.

• Flag Football Growth: A non-contact version of the game that aligns with the NFL’s global “Play60” health initiative and its 2028 Olympic ambitions.
• Talent Identification: Scouts are actively monitoring the clinics for athletes aged 15–18 who may qualify for the IPP or the NFL Academy in the UK and USA.
• Coaching Sustainability: The league has already accredited 30 new local coaches in Suva to ensure the sport continues to grow after the delegation departs.

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