Fiji

By Brian Lowe,

There is absolutely no question about what Rugby League Planet readers think about a Fiji team entering the New South Wales rugby league judging by the results of our latest survey on Twitter.

The senior draws for the NSWRL major competitions have been released today (Tuesday 3 March) with Fijian team, the Kaiviti Silktails, playing their opening game at home in the Ron Massey Cup and the Central Coast Roosters joining the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership for the first time.

Fiji Bati proved their three consecutive Rugby League World Cup semi-final appearances were no fluke. Their offloading and powerful edge running – with back-rowers Viliame Kikau and D’Rhys Miller especially prominent – wreaked havoc as the underdogs raced to a shock 24-0 lead in even time. Toa Samoa temporarily stemmed the Bati’s flow and centre Tim Lafai belatedly put them on the scoreboard, but Kikau’s second barnstorming try gave Fiji an imposing 30-6 halftime advantage.

NSWRL has announced an historic agreement with Fiji National Rugby League which will see Fiji field a team in a NSWRL competition next season in a move to significantly assist the development and growth of the game and provide a pathway for the country’s aspiring Rugby League players.

By Ben Ryder

With the second round of Oceania Cup games scheduled in October/November 2019, Rugby League Planet takes an in-depth look at each competing island nation and what the game of Rugby League is doing for them, as well as their strengths, weaknesses, and the nations chances at winning their respective pools.

Kick-Off Times
3:30pm Gates Open
5:40pm Fiji v Lebanon

Date: 22nd June
Venue: Leichhardt Oval, Sydney, Australia
TV: Gem and Foxtel also check our Rugby League Live Page

Date: 13/3/19

Brandon Costin, head coach of the Fiji Bati Rugby League team is convinced that a Pacific nation will win one of the next three Rugby League World Cups. Costin, who has started his role as full-time head coach of the Bati, was outlining why he is so ambitious for the sport in Fiji and also across the wider Pacific region.

Date: 13/3/19

The Australian Prime Minister’s XIII men’s and women’s teams will take the field in Fiji at the end of 2019, marking the first official Prime Minister’s XIII matches in the country.

Date: 18/1/19

Rugby League in the Pacific received a significant boost today, with the Australian Government announcing support for NRL pre-season trial matches to be played in the Pacific over three years starting in 2020.

Date: 14/6/18 (Photo Credit: NRL Photos) 

Fiji have named a 19 man squad ahead of their Melanesian Cup clash against Papua New Guinea on the 23rd of June at Campbelltown in Sydney's south west.