Fiji national rugby league team

Updated on Feb 04, 2024

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Nickname Fiji Bati Most caps Wes Naiqama (14) Top point-scorer Wes Naiqama (132) Head coach Michael Potter Location Fiji		Region Asia-Pacific Top try-scorer Akuila Uate (13) Captain Kevin Naiqama Home ground ANZ National Stadium

Governing body Fiji National Rugby League

Fiji national rugby league team sing for students

The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati (pronounced [mˈbatʃi]), has been participating in international rugby league football since 1992. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Fiji, Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). Fiji have come within one victory of the Rugby League World Cup final twice (in 2008 and 2013) and are currently ranked 7th in the Rugby League International Federation's World Rankings.

Fiji bati rugby league world cup 2013 james storer

1990s

The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1992 but despite this there has been a long history of Fijian players making their mark in rugby league, most notably back in the 1960s when great players such as Joe Levula and Laitia Ravouvou joined Rochdale Hornets and became household names in the English competition.

Interest and participation in rugby league snowballed throughout Fiji, and as well as continued success in the World Sevens, the Batis began playing full 13-aside games against international teams. By 1994, Fiji had hammered the Great Britain Amateur tourists (40-8) and, captained by mighty front-rower James Pickering, beat France (20-12).

They had also produced their first rugby league superstar after winger Noa Nadruku joined Canberra Raiders and in 1993 became the top try-scorer in the Australian competition.

Fiji took part in their first World Cup in 1995 where, just as the 2000 World Cup, they had the misfortune to be placed in the same group as both England and Australia. But the Batis made a massive impression in their opening World Cup game in which they ran riot against South Africa, 52-6, and had the crowd on their feet at Keighley.

During the Super League war, Fiji, like most countries other countries, aligned itself with Super League. In search of international competition, the Australian Rugby League played a match against a "National Rugby League of Fiji" team in 1996. This match has been granted Test status by the Australian Rugby League, but not by the Rugby League International Federation.

2000s

Coached by Don Furner, Sr. and captained by Lote Tuqiri, Fiji competed in the 2000 World Cup but did not progress past the tournament's group stage.

The Fiji Bati qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup held in Australia after finishing second in Pacific qualifying behind Tonga. Fiji's qualification campaign started with a thrilling 30-28 loss to Samoa before reversing the scoreline a few days later with a 30-28 win over the Tongans. Fiji won their final qualifying game against Cook Islands 40-4. Having qualified the Vodafone Fiji Bati team started their Rugby League World Cup 2008 campaign with 42-6 win over France followed by a 2-point defeat to Scotland, however they topped their group with a superior points difference. Beating Ireland in their quarter final they came within one match of the World Cup final, but were defeated by Australia, ending the tournament in 4th place.

2010s

Fiji automatically qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup after participating in the 2008 tournament. They took on Australia, England and Ireland in the pool stage. In their first match they took on 'the Wolfhounds'. They played at the famous Spotland Stadium, in Rochdale, where Fiji have an historic affiliation with. The Fijians convincingly won by a score of 32-14. As expected Fiji lost to both Australia and England, although they surprised many, as they only conceded 34 points against the teams in each game and they led 2-0 against Australia, and were within a few minutes of taking a half-time lead against England. Fiji would take on 'fierce Pacific rivals' Samoa in the quarter final. They won the, passionate pacific, fixture and they would celebrate with a 22-4 victory. They celebrated even more, as it meant Fiji reached their second consecutive World Cup semi-final. They took on Australia again, but this game was nothing like the group stage fixture. Fiji's errors conceded them 62 points against a classy Australian side. This defeat ended and equalled their best World Cup campaign in their history.

In May 2014, Fiji took on Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League Test at Penrith Stadium. The International was created as a qualifier for the final 2014 Four Nations spot. It was also a chance for the Four Nations team (winner of this international) to warm-up before the event kicked off later in the year. Fiji failed to qualify with their fierce pacific rivals getting the better of them by 32-16.

In May 2015, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2015 Melanesian Cup test at Cbus Super Stadium. Fiji won the match and the inaugural Melanesian Cup title. Fiji never looked like losing the match after an easy first half performance, leading 18-0 at the break. They went on to win the test match by 22-10.

In May 2016, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup test at Pirtek Stadium. Fiji had a similar situation in this year's Melanesian Cup with a half-time score of 16-8 but this time around they conceded too many second half points allowing the Kumuls to make a shock comeback and win the match 24-22.

Players

For all past and present players who have appeared for the national team, see Fiji national rugby league team players.

Current squad

The Fiji national team squad selected for the end of year test match against Samoa. (caps and points apply for after the test match finished):

Saimon Lomaloma was named as the 18th man. He was selected as a replacement player to fill in for any injury, suspension or a late tactical change before the test-match began.

Other competitions

Fiji have also participated in:

World Sevens (1994–2003)

Superleague World Nines (1996,1997)

Superleague Oceania Tournament (1997)

Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

Results and fixtures

Below are the previous 5 matches of the national team."

Fiji def. Samoa 24 - 4 (2 June 2010)

Fiji def. Tonga 26 - 16 (31 October 2009)

Cook Islands def. Fiji 24 - 22 (24 October 2009)

Australia def. Fiji 52 - 0 (16 November 2008)

Fiji def. Ireland 30 - 14 (10 November 2008)

Fiji def. France 42-6 (1 November 2008)

Tonga def. Fiji 14-12 (19 October 2007)

Junior Kangaroos def Fiji 15-14 (5 October 2007)

Fiji def. Cook Islands 58-12 (26 January 2007)

Fiji 40 def. Cook Islands 4 (7 October 2006)

Fiji 30 def. Tonga 28 (4 October 2006)

Samoa 30 def. Fiji 28 29 September 2006)

Tonga def. Fiji 22-4 (2006)

Fiji def. Cook Islands 40-18 (2006)

Fiji def. Samoa 26-4 (2006)

Fiji tied Cook Islands 20-20 (February 2005)

Fiji def. Niue 34-24 (23 October 2004)

Cook Islands def. Fiji 20-12 (21 October 2004)

Tonga def. Fiji 56-6 (17 October 2004)

Cook Islands def. Fiji 36-24 (17 August 2004)

Fiji def. England "A" 44-8 (11 November 2002)

England def. Fiji 66-4 (4 November 2000)

Australia def. Fiji 66-8 (1 November 2000)

Fiji def. Russia 38-12 (29 October 2000)

Fiji def. Tonga 10-6 (3 June 2000)

Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (27 May 2000)

New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 70-0 (29 April 2000)

New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 28-12 (25 April 2000)

New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 44-14 (22 April 2000)

Fiji def. Samoa 30-4 (1999)

Fiji def. Samoa 22-16 (1999)

Samoa def. Fiji 6-1 (1999)

Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 16-14 (1998)

Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 34-12 (1998)

Fiji def. Papua New Guinea 14-10 (1998)

Fiji def. Tonga 22-14 (1998)

Cook Islands def. Fiji 22-14 (1997)

New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 32-22 (1997)

Fiji drew with Tonga 14-14 (1997)

Fiji drew with Tonga 22-22 (1997)

Australia def. NRL of Fiji 84-14 (1996)

Fiji def. Cook Islands 14-8 (1996)

Great Britain def. Fiji 72-4 (5 October 1996)

Australia def. Fiji 66-0 (14 October 1995)

England def. Fiji 46-0 (11 October 1995)

Fiji def. South Africa 52-6 (8 October 1995)

Fiji def. France 20-12 (9 July 1994)

Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 35-24 (1993)

Fiji def. Cook Islands 54-6 (1992)

Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (1992)

Niue def. Fiji 14-10 (1992)

Western Samoa def. Fiji 32-18 (1992)

References

Fiji national rugby league team Wikipedia

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