CONGRATULATIONS: Captain Joseph Tapine Launches $300M Football Academy for the Next Generation, Saying “It’s Time to Give Back”
Canberra Raiders captain Joseph Tapine has announced the launch of a groundbreaking $300 million Football Academy, aimed at nurturing and developing the next generation of rugby league stars across Australia and the Pacific. The initiative, which is already being hailed as a game-changer in the sporting world, reflects Tapine’s deep commitment to youth development and community empowerment.
Speaking at the official launch event in Canberra, Tapine said, “It’s time to give back. Rugby league gave me a future. Now it’s my turn to help open doors for the next generation – not just on the field, but in life.”
The Tapine Elite Academy (TEA) will feature world-class facilities including elite training grounds, residential housing for scholarship athletes, high-performance gyms, classrooms, and health and wellbeing centers. It will initially be based in Canberra, with satellite centers planned for New Zealand, Western Sydney, and several Pacific Islands.
The academy will offer full scholarships for young athletes aged 14–20, with a strong emphasis on Indigenous, Pasifika, and underprivileged communities. Education will play a central role, with students enrolled in nationally accredited academic programs while training under former NRL legends, coaches, and medical staff.
Tapine, a proud Māori and one of the NRL’s most respected forwards, said he’s long dreamed of using
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