The Vanuatu rugby league team says today's test match against the Philippines in Santo marks another step forward in their burgeoning international programme.
The Melanesian country made their international debut against Greece two years ago and last year managed wins over the Solomon Islands and Niue.
VRL founder Dane Campbell says this afternoon's match will be their biggest test yet.
"The Philippines, with the players that they've got access to now, they've done a wonderful job over the last three or four years. The other beauty about the Philippines is that we basically started around the same time. I remember both of us attended the Cabramatta Nines, which was for Vanuatu our very first time that we'd had an opportunity to play together and I know the Philippines were the same"
Vanuatu will field a record number of local players in this afternoon's clash, which is expected to draw a crowd of three to four thousand.
