Tanzanian-born forward Emarly Bitungane will make his NRL debut for the North Queensland Cowboys this weekend in a proud moment for both the player and the wider African rugby league community.
In doing so, Bitungane will become just the second African-born player to feature in the NRL era, marking a rare and significant milestone in the competition’s history.
His debut will place him among a small but growing group of NRL players with African heritage, alongside names like Moses Mbye (Gambia), Jason Saab (Nigeria), Jayden Okunbor (Zimbabwe, Nigeria), and Kruise Leeming (Eswatini).
The 23-year-old front-rower has impressed through the lower grades, earning his chance through consistent performances and perseverance in a highly competitive Cowboys forward pack.
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Amazingly, his rugby league journey started on the wing just seven years ago after friends encouraged him to join his school team that was short on numbers.
His selection highlights the increasing diversity within the NRL, with Bitungane set to inspire a new generation of aspiring players from underrepresented regions.
While his name might be new to most fans, Bitungane’s physicality and work ethic have made him a standout at training and earned praise within Cowboys circles all year.
For the Cowboys, they'll be hoping his debut injects some much needed enthusiasm and power into their forward pack who will need to steop up this week to give the Cowboys any chance at playing finals football.
For Bitungane himself, it’s a dream realised — and the start of what could become a remarkable rugby league journey from African refugee to NRL star.