Fiji national rugby league team

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.^[1] 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.

Current squad

The Fiji national team squad for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.^[2]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts.	Club
Fullback	Jarryd Hayne	(1988-02-15) 15 February 1988	9	20	Parramatta Eels
Wing	Marcelo Montoya	(1996-02-17) 17 February 1996	7	12	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Wing	Pio Seci	(1993-08-19) 19 August 1993	1	0	Nabua Broncos
Wing	Akuila Uate	(1987-10-06) 6 October 1987	17	52	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Wing	Suliasi Vunivalu	(1995-11-27) 27 November 1995	6	38	Melbourne Storm
Wing	Brayden Wiliame	(1992-12-17) 17 December 1992	7	8	Catalans Dragons
Centre	Taane Milne	(1995-05-19) 19 May 1995	6	30	Wests Tigers
Centre	Kevin Naiqama (Captain)	(1989-02-04) 4 February 1989	15	20	Wests Tigers
Centre	Mikaele Ravalawa	(1997-11-09) 9 November 1997	0	0	Canberra Raiders
Five-eighth	Sitiveni Moceidreke	(1994-11-27) 27 November 1994	3	12	Canberra Raiders
Halfback	Henry Raiwalui	(1989-02-24) 24 February 1989	4	4	Mounties RLFC
Prop	Kane Evans	(1992-01-09) 9 January 1992	10	4	Parramatta Eels
Prop	Ben Nakubuwai	(1996-03-15) 15 March 1996	8	8	Salford Red Devils
Prop	Junior Roqica	(1991-02-13) 13 February 1991	13	4	Newcastle Knights
Prop	Jacob Saifiti	(1996-05-01) 1 May 1996	7	0	Newcastle Knights
Prop	Ashton Sims	(1985-02-26) 26 February 1985	12	0	Toronto Wolfpack
Prop	Eloni Vunakece	(1987-05-27) 27 May 1987	15	12	Sydney Roosters
Hooker	Apisai Koroisau	(1992-11-07) 7 November 1992	16	38	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Hooker	James Storer	(1982-02-16) 16 February 1982	12	8	Port Kembla Blacks
Second-row	Salesi Junior Fainga'a	(1998-08-19) 19 August 1998	1	4	Parramatta Eels
Second-row	Tui Kamikamica	(1994-05-18) May 18, 1994	8	0	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Viliame Kikau	(1995-04-05) 5 April 1995	8	16	Penrith Panthers
Lock	Joe Lovodua	(1998-03-18) 18 March 1998	4	4	St George Illawarra Dragons
Lock	Korbin Sims	(1992-01-02) 2 January 1992	7	4	Brisbane Broncos

Rugby League World Cup

World Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
1995	Group Stage	6/10	3	1	2	0
2000	Group Stage	12/16	3	1	2	0
2008	Semi-finals	4/10	4	2	2	0
2013	Semi-finals	4/14	5	2	3	0
2017	Semi-finals	4/14	5	1	4	0
Total	0 Titles	4/13	15	6	9	0

Four Nations

Four Nations record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
2009	Not Invited
2010	Failed to Qualify
2011	Not Invited
2014	Failed to Qualify
2016	Not Invited
Total	0 Titles	0/5	0	0	3	0

Pacific Cup

Pacific Cup record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
1992	Group Stage	9/10	4	1	3	0
1994	Second Place	2/10	6	4	2	0
1997	Group Stage	5/6	3	0	2	1
2004	Group Stage	4/6	2	1	1	0
2006	Second Place	2/6	3	2	1	0
2009	Semi-finals	3/5	2	1	1	0
Total	0 Titles	6/12	20	9	10	1

Other competitions

Fiji have also participated in:

• World Sevens (1994–2003)
• Super League World Nines (1996,1997)
• Superleague Oceania Tournament (1997)
• Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

New Zealand vs Fiji

18 November 2017 19:30 NZDT (UTC+13)

New Zealand	2 – 4	Fiji
Goals: Shaun Johnson 1/1 (45' pen)	1st: 0 – 2 2nd: 2 – 2 Report[3]	Goals: 1/1 Apisai Koroisau (15' pen) 1/1 Taane Milne (62' pen)

Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington Attendance: 12,713 Referee: Matt Cecchin (Australia) Man of the Match: Kevin Naiqama (Fiji)

Fiji v Italy

Friday, 10 November 7:40pm (AEDT)

Fiji	38 – 10	Italy
Tries: Suliasi Vunivalu (60', 63', 68') 3 Kevin Naiqama (28') 1 Henry Raiwalui (40') 1 Brayden Wiliame (54') 1 Marcelo Montoya (75') 1 Goals: Apisai Koroisau 3/4 (29', 40', 61') Taane Milne 2/3 (64', 69') Sin Bins: Jarryd Hayne (34')	1st: 12 – 4 2nd: 26 – 6	Tries: 1 (20') Josh Mantellato 1 (43') Nathan Milone Goals: 1/2 Josh Mantellato (44') Sin Bins: (12') Jayden Walker (34') Joey Tramontana

Canberra Stadium, Canberra Attendance: 6,733 Referee: Robert Hicks Man of the Match: Apisai Koroisau

Fiji v Wales (Inter-Group)

Sunday, 5 November 6:30pm (AEST)

Fiji	72 – 6	Wales
Tries: Suliasi Vunivalu (14', 51', 61') 3 Viliame Kikau (22', 40') 2 Taane Milne (31', 56') 2 Eloni Vunakece (6') 1 Henry Raiwalui (16') 1 Salesi Faingaa (27') 1 Marcelo Montoya (33') 1 Jarryd Hayne (42') 1 Joe Lovodua (65') 1 Ben Nakubuwai (70') 1 Goals: Apisai Koroisau 4/7 (7', 17', 23', 28') Taane Milne 3/5 (40', 43', 52') Suliasi Vunivalu 1/2 (66')	1st: 42 – 6 2nd: 30 – 0 Report[4]	Tries: 1 (11') Morgan Knowles Goals: 1/1 Courtney Davies (12')

Townsville Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 7,732 Referee: Chris Kendall Man of the Match: Akuila Uate

Fiji v United States

Saturday, 28 October 7:40pm (AEST)

Fiji	58 – 12	United States
Tries: Taane Milne (3', 11') 2 Kevin Naiqama (7', 30') 2 Suliasi Vunivalu (35', 64') 2 Akuila Uate (14') 1 Kane Evans (17') 1 Jarryd Hayne (46') 1 Viliame Kikau (60') 1 Henry Raiwalui (66') 1 Goals: Apisai Koroisau 5/8 (8', 13', 18', 31', 47') Taane Milne 2/3 (61', 68')	1st: 36 – 6 2nd: 22 – 6 Report[5]	Tries: 1 (21') Matt Shipway 1 (72') Junior Vaivai Goals: 2/2 Bureta Fariamo (22', 74')

Townsville Stadium, Townsville Attendance: 5,103 Referee: Henry Perenara Man of the Match: Kevin Naiqama

6 May 2017 16:40

Tonga	26 – 24	Fiji
	Report

Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 18,271 Referee: Ben Cummins Man of the Match: William Hopoate