RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

Foundation Year - 1992

International Team - The Bati

Highest finish in World Cup - Semi Final (2008)

Top level domestic competition - The Fiji National Rugby League starts in April and is broken up into two conferences, East & West with 11 teams in total. Once the Grand Final is played a Super 6 competition takes place comprising of the best players from the FNRL. In September a State of Origin type competition is played with East against West.

History - Fiji's first involvement with "rakavi saumi" or rugby league as we know it was via the 1992 Nissan World 7's. It nearly didn't happen as Rugby Union officials in Fiji imposed life bans on players switching to league. In Fiji's first game, they won against a star-studded Canberra line-up that included the likes of Laurie Daley and Mal Meninga.

Fiji's first 13 a side tournament was the Pacific Cup against other pacific nations. Fiji have been involved in every Pacific Cup since.

In 1995 Fiji took part in the Rugby League World Cup for the first time. Fiji drew in the same pool as Australia and England and finished 3rd winning against South Africa.

Fiji were again involved in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. It was deja vu as Fiji once again joined Australia and England in the same pool. Lote Tuquri was captain of the Fijian team during the 2000 tournament. As per the 1995 World Cup Fiji finished 3rd in the Pool beating Russia.

In 2006 Fiji became the 2nd team to qualify for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Fiji were grouped with France and Scotland for the Pool rounds. What was to unfold during the World Cup would be one of the success stories of the tournament. Fiji were not tipped to make it out of the Pool rounds.

In their first match they smashed favourites France 42 - 6. The week after they narrowly went down to Scotland by 2 points 16 - 18. Based on for and against Fiji finished top of their Pool and booked a place in the qualifying semi-finals against the other World Cup success stories Ireland. Fiji and Ireland battled it out in the first half but the size and strength of the Fijian's prevailed in the 2nd half. In the end Fiji continued their dream run and booked a place in the nations first ever semi-final against champions Australia.

Leading into the game some experts were giving Fiji a 100 plus start. In the end the Fijian's went down to Australia 52 - 0. The score did not indicate the effort Fiji put into the game. At stages they had Australia on the back foot but could not get over the line when it counted. When the players returned to Fiji they were greeted at the airport by hundreds of fans. With the new found popularity for league in Fiji, it is only a matter of time before they come knocking on Australia's door for a rematch.

Nov 16th Australia 52 - Fiji 0 (World Cup Semi Final)

Nov 10th Fiji 30 - Ireland 14 (World Cup Qualifying Semi Final)

Nov 5th Scotland 18 - Fiji 16 (World Cup)

Nov 1st Fiji 42 - France 6 (World Cup)