Rugby league in Fiji

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Template:Short description Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Rugby league is a popular team sport played in Fiji since 1992.

History

Fiji's 1992 Rugby League
World Sevens squad
Niko Baleiverata
Alifereti Dere
Pio Kubuwai
Nemani Matirewa
Noa Nadruku
Livai Nalagilagi
Acura Niuqila
Jo Rabele
Pauliasi Tabulutu
Etuate Waqa
Manager: Culden Kamea

Joe Levula and Orisi Dawai were the first Fijians to play rugby league after they were recruited to play professionally for the Rochdale Hornets in 1961. Voate Driu and Laitia Ravouvou joined the club the next year, with numerous others following throughout the 1960s and 1970s. These players largely remained in Rochdale after their careers.[1][2][3]

In 1992, a number of high-profile Fijian rugby union representatives converted to rugby league and entered the Rugby League World Sevens, for which they received lifetime bans from the Fiji Rugby Union.[4] Under the guidance of Bob Abbott (from the Australian Rugby League), a six-team rugby league competition was established in Fiji later that same year.[5] The competition used match payments to attract players from rugby union, with FJ$40 (AU$38) offered per win and FJ$10 per loss.[6][7] The sport was supported by Sitiveni Rabuka, who served as President of the Fiji Rugby League (FRL) during that period.[8]

The FRL aligned itself with the News Corp-backed Super League during the Super League war. Suva hosted the inaugural Super League World Nines in February 1996, which reportedly brought $1.3 million into the local economy. Under the Super League, the FRL grew from eight clubs with one team each to twelve clubs with two teams each. Abbott and the Australian Rugby League had meanwhile established a small competition in western Fiji.[9]

2001 was the last year in which payments were offered to rugby league players in Fiji.[10]

The first women's club rugby league match in the country was played on 26 March 2016, between Bemana and the Coastal Roos.[11][12][13]

In 2020, the Kaiviti Silktails entered the NSWRL's third tier Ron Massey Cup, with entry to the second tier New South Wales Cup guaranteed for 2021. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plans were delayed by one year.[14] The team draws its players from Fiji's local competition.

Domestic Competitions

Vodafone Cup

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote".The Fiji National Rugby League runs the national domestic rugby league competition in Fiji. Known as the Vodafone Cup, the competition features 32 teams across two conferences, each with two zones. The competition was formed in 1998, and has been Fiji's top level rugby league competition ever since.

Teams

Eastern Conference Western Conference
Nasinu Zone Suva Zone Koicalevu Zone Navitilevu Zone
Template:Leagueicon Cunningham Titans Template:Leagueicon Fiji Navy Albatross Template:Leagueicon Kainiyahawa Tigers Template:Leagueicon BA Eagles
Template:Leagueicon Davuilevu Knights Template:Leagueicon Lami Steelers Template:Leagueicon Laselese Cowboys Template:Leagueicon Burenitu Cowboys
Template:Leagueicon Kinoya Sea Eagles Template:Leagueicon Lovoni Titans Template:Leagueicon Nadi Eels Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks White
Template:Leagueicon Kolimakawa Bulldogs Template:Leagueicon Nabua Broncos Template:Leagueicon Navatulevu Warriors Template:Leagueicon Namuaniwaqa Sea Eagles
Template:Leagueicon Makoi Bulldogs Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks Template:Leagueicon Ravoravo Rabbitohs Template:Leagueicon Namoli West Tigers
Template:Leagueicon Mataivalu Template:Leagueicon Serua Dragons Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters Template:Leagueicon Saru Dragons
Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers Template:Leagueicon Suva City Storm Template:Leagueicon West Coast Storms Template:Leagueicon Yasawa Saints
Template:Leagueicon Veiyasana Knights Template:Leagueicon Topline Warriors
Template:Leagueicon USP Raiders Template:Leagueicon Vusu Raiders

The FNRL Vodafone Cup is the top club competition for men's rugby league in Fiji.

It was previously divided into two conferences (East and West). The number of conferences has increased as the competition has grown.

24 teams took part in the 2020 Vodafone Cup.[15] The 2022 season featured 30 teams.[16]

Premiers

FNRL Men's Vodafone Cup Grand Finals
Year Champions Score Runners-up Venue Ref.
1992 Template:Leagueicon Nabua Broncos ?
[17]
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1993 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
1994 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
1995 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
1996 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
1997 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
Coral Coast Cowboys ?
1998 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
1999 Template:Leagueicon Nausori Bulldogs ?
2000 Lautoka Warriors ?
2001 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
2002 QVS Sharks ?
2003 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
2004 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
2005 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
2006 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers ?
2007 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers 28–11 Template:Leagueicon Nabua Broncos HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
[18]
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2008 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers 14–12 Template:Leagueicon Nabua Broncos HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
[19]
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2009 ? ?
2010 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters 15–14 Template:Leagueicon Saru Dragons HFC Bank Stadium, Suva[20]
[21]
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2011 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers 22–18 Template:Leagueicon Namatakula Tigers HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
[22]
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2012 Template:Leagueicon Makoi Bulldogs 12–10 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
[23]
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2013 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters 27–18 Template:Leagueicon Saru Dragons Churchill Park, Lautoka
[24]
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2014 Template:Leagueicon Saru Dragons 20–18 Template:Leagueicon Makoi Bulldogs Churchill Park, Lautoka
[25]
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2015 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters 16–6 Template:Leagueicon Nabua Broncos HFC Bank Stadium, Suva
[26]
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2016 Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks 18–10 Template:Leagueicon Burenitu Cowboys Prince Charles Park, Nadi
[27]
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2017 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters 12–8 Template:Leagueicon Ravoravo Rabbitohs Prince Charles Park, Nadi
[28]
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2018 Template:Leagueicon Ravoravo Rabbitohs 16–14 Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[29]
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2019 Template:Leagueicon Ravoravo Rabbitohs 22–10 Template:Leagueicon Army Bears Churchill Park, Lautoka
[30]
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2020 Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks 18–16* Template:Leagueicon Coastline Roos Albert Park, Suva
[31]
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2021
Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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[32]
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2022 Template:Leagueicon Nadera Panthers 16–10 Template:Leagueicon Saru Dragons Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[33]
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FNRL Women's Vodafone Cup Grand Finals
Year Champions Score Runners-up Venue Ref.
2022 Template:Leagueicon Police Sharks 32–16 Template:Leagueicon Lami Steelers Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[33]
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An * indicates that the match was decided in extra time.

Inter-Zone Championship

The Inter-Zone Championship was created in 2016. The teams were made up of the strongest players from the Vodafone Cup. The men's and U20's competition was first held in 2016, while the women's competition was introduced in 2017.[34]

Each Zone plays each other over 5 weeks before semi finals and a final is played.

Men's Inter-Zone Championship Finals
Year Champions Score Runners-up Venue Ref.
2016 Template:Leagueicon Nadi Aviators 38–30 Suva Eagles Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori
[35]
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2017 Template:Leagueicon Nadi Aviators 20–18 Template:Leagueicon Nasinu Titans Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[36]
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Women's Inter-Zone Championship Finals
Year Champions Score Runners-up Venue Ref.
2017 Template:Leagueicon Lautoka Crusaders 26–24 Nodroga Knights Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[37]
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Melanesian Club Championship

The Melanesian Club Championship has been contested by the Fijian champions (at either club or zone level) and the winner of Papua New Guinea's Digicel Cup since 2015.

Date Fiji team Result PNG team Venue Ref.
10 October 2015 Template:Leagueicon Sabeto Roosters Lost 2–42 Template:Leagueicon Agmark Gurias Sir John Guise Stadium, Port Moresby
[38]
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18 February 2017 Template:Leagueicon Nadi Aviators Lost 4–40 Template:Leagueicon Lae Snax Tigers Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
[39]
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24 February 2018 Template:Leagueicon Nadi Aviators Lost 22–38 Template:Leagueicon Lae Snax Tigers PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
[40]
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29 February 2020 Template:Leagueicon Ravoravo Rabbitohs Lost 8–32 Template:Leagueicon Lae Snax Tigers Churchill Park, Lautoka
[41]
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Media coverage

As early as 1993, one Winfield Cup match was being broadcast on Fijian television per week.[6]

In 2016, the Fiji Times partnered with the FNRL to become the official newspaper of rugby league in the country.[42]

Beginning in 2018, two NRL matches are broadcast live on free-to-air television each weekend by FBC TV.[43]

National teams

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The men's national team, known as the Bati, was formed in 1992 and have competed at 5 Rugby League World Cups (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, and 2017). They achieved their best result as semi-finalists on three occasions, in 2008, 2013, and 2017.

The women's national team, known as the Bulikula, was reformed in 2018 and played a full international against Template:Rlnt the following year.

Notable players

This is a list of players from the domestic FNRL competition in Fiji who have played in a top-tier professional rugby league competition i.e. the NRL or the Super League.

See also

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References

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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  33. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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