During Indo Pacific 2025, some of Australia’s best-known sporting names highlighted how diplomacy also happens on the field or court. 

Chaired by Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, the Sports Diplomacy panel at the international maritime conference featured South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Cameron Murray and premiership-winning Brisbane Broncos coach Michael ‘Madge’ Maguire.

Mr Maguire said sports diplomacy has a quiet but powerful role to play.

“Diplomacy, from my eyes, is about the connection of people,” he said. 

Whether it is rugby matches between allied nations, military teams competing at the Invictus Games or joint training during international exercises, sport can strengthen relationships in a way formal meetings often cannot.

Mr Murray shared his experiences working with the Navy in Papua New Guinea when he represented Australia as captain of the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2023. 

“I was really curious and interested to hear the backstory of the sailors. There are a lot of parallels between the NRL and the Navy,” he said. 

Brigadier Phil Winter, Director-General of ADF Sports and spokesperson for the ADF Pacific Sport Program, spoke about the importance of sport to the ADF and its members. 

“There are over 7000 people in the ADF playing level-four sports, and what we found with our allies in the region is that sport is a very natural fit … It leaves a lasting memory,” he said.

'Football makes it very easy to travel the world and have those conversations without conflict.'

Kate Ridderhof, of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Public Diplomacy and Influence Branch, pulled out her copy of the Sports Diplomacy Strategy for the audience, joking that she carries it “at all times”. She spoke about the trust sport can foster between nations. 

“We are in the most complex and challenging strategic environment in decades, in an increasingly contested region, and it’s in this context that Australia really needs to harness all elements of national power to support a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” she said. 

James Ceely, the AFL’s head of new growth, emphasised the importance of sports diplomacy. 

“From an AFL perspective, we are supporting Australian football in over 50 countries all over the world and there's something quite unique about our game when you have the privilege of seeing it played overseas,” he said. 

Sebastian Gray, executive vice chairman of Sydney FC, said the universal language of sport could open doors for cultural understanding. 

“Football makes it very easy to travel the world and have those conversations without conflict,” he said. 

With more than 240 official delegations from about 60 countries and more than 900 exhibitor companies, Indo Pacific 2025 showcased the latest technologies and newest ideas.