About QPICC

The Queensland Pacific Islands Cultural Carnival (QPICC) began in 2013, bringing together five Nations – Samoa, Cook Islands, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Māori, to create what has become a key event in Queensland’s rugby league calendar.

The inaugural carnival was held at Bill Norris Oval in Beenleigh, with male teams competing across Under 14, Under 16, Under 18 and Open divisions.

Women have always played vital roles off the field, but in 2015 they stepped onto the pitch for the first time in an exhibition match between the QPICC Barbarians and Queensland Māori. The following year marked the launch of the women’s Open division, with teams from Māori, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tokelau and Samoa.

The Queensland Rugby League (QRL) has supported QPICC from the early days, initially offering guidance before formalising its backing in 2015. This helped establish a structured pathway that continues today. With QPICC now affiliated with SEQ and recognised as a League, the carnival is fully sanctioned by the QRL.

Match officials from South East Queensland have also backed QPICC since day one starting with Gold Coast referees, later joined by the Brisbane Referees Association. In 2016, a referee development program was introduced, providing a solid framework for training and long-term collaboration.

At its core, QPICC aims to give Pacific youth a space to celebrate and express their cultural identity through language, performance and sport. Rugby league serves as the platform to connect communities, foster pride and encourage learning through shared experiences.