Tackling Leukaemia Inc is continuing their fight in increasing the bone marrow donor list for First Nations and Pacifika people.

On Friday the group announced the inaugural Tackling Leukaemia Rugby 10s competition to be played on three fields at Box Hill Rugby Club on Saturday March 18th.

All 42 Rugby Unions clubs in Victoria have been invited to nominate teams competing for the Men's, Women's and Colts U21 trophies.

A round robin-knockout style event featuring a finals series, the shared winners will also take home the prize money of $15,000.

With blood cancer rates among young First Nations and Pasifika people rising, Tackling Leukaemia is targeting grassroots sporting communities to bring awareness to the effects of leukaemia and increasing sign-ups to the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry (ABMDR) with their 'Strength to Give' programme.

On the day team members and supporters will be encouraged to register and be cheek-swabbed to become potential donors with the ABMDR.

Tackling Leukaemia chief executive Kevin Maloney said "this is our first major event".

"It's an opportunity to get so many Pasifika and First Nations people in one place at one time," he said.

"The bone marrow registry will be in attendance to help us take the swabs and they are paying for the processing."

"Our target is is between 250 and 300, which will represent a 20% increase on the register."

Read more about the challenging donor rates of First Nations and Pasifika diaspora and the contribution thus far by Tackling Leukaemia here.