Fiji national rugby league team

Fiji
Nickname Fiji Bati
Governing body Fiji National Rugby League
Region Asia-Pacific
Head coach Mick Potter
Captain Kevin Naiqama
Most caps Wes Naiqama (14)
Top try-scorer Akuila Uate (13)
Top point-scorer Wes Naiqama (132)
Home stadium National Stadium
RLIF ranking 7th
Colours
First international
Samoa Western Samoa 32–18 Fiji 
(Apia, Samoa; 1992)
Biggest win
 Cook Islands 6–54 Fiji 
(Suva, Fiji; 1992)
Biggest defeat
 Australia 84–14 Fiji 
(Marathon Stadium, Newcastle; 12 July 1994)
World Cup
Appearances 4 (first time in 1995)
Best result Semi Final 2008, 2013

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.

History

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.

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.[2] (caps and points apply for after the test match finished):

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Pts. Club
FB Kevin Naiqama (Captain) 4 February 1989 10 8 Australia Wests Tigers
FB Tyrone Phillips 5 January 1994 3 4 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
FB Henry Raiwalui 24 February 1989 1 0 Australia Wentworthville Magpies
WG Marcello Montoya 17 February 1996 1 4 Australia Canterbury Bulldogs
CE Sitiveni Moceidreke 27 November 1994 2 8 Australia North Sydney Bears
CE Pio Seci 19 August 1993 1 0 Fiji
CE Brayden Wiliame 17 December 1992 3 4 Australia Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
SH Maurice Kennedy 16 October 1988 2 2 Australia Mount Pritchard Mounties
PR Kane Evans 9 January 1992 8 0 Australia Sydney Roosters
PR Tui Kamikamica 18 May 1994 2 0 Australia Melbourne Storm
PR Viliame Kikau 5 April 1995 2 0 Australia Penrith Panthers
PR Ben Nakubuwai 15 March 1996 2 0 Australia Melbourne Storm
PR Junior Roqica 13 February 1991 8 4 Australia Cronulla Sharks
PR Korbin Sims 2 January 1992 6 4 Australia Newcastle Knights
PR Eloni Vunakece 27 May 1987 9 8 Australia Sydney Roosters
HK Apisai Koroisau 7 November 1992 6 6 Australia Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
HK James Storer 16 February 1982 11 12 Australia Port Kembla Blacks[3]

Tournament history

Rugby League World Cup

World Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
United Kingdom 1995Group Stage6/103120
United KingdomIrelandFrance 2000Group Stage12/163120
Australia 2008Semi-finals4/104220
EnglandWales 2013Semi-finals4/145230
AustraliaNew Zealand 2017 To Be Determined
Total0 Titles4/1315690

Four Nations

Four Nations record
Year Round Position GP W L D
EnglandFrance 2009 Not Invited
AustraliaNew Zealand 2010 Failed to Qualify
EnglandWales 2011 Not Invited
AustraliaNew Zealand 2014 Failed to Qualify
England 2016 Not Invited
Total0 Titles0/50030

Pacific Cup

Pacific Cup record
Year Round Position GP W L D
New Zealand 1992Group Stage9/104130
Fiji 1994Second Place2/106420
New Zealand 1997Group Stage5/63021
New Zealand 2004Group Stage4/62110
New Zealand 2006Second Place2/63210
Papua New Guinea 2009Semi-finals3/52110
Total0 Titles6/12209101

Other competitions

Fiji have also participated in:

Results and fixtures

Below are the previous 5 matches of the national team."
8 October 2016
16:40
Fiji  20–18  Samoa
Apia Park, Apia, Samoa
Referee/s: Gerrad Sutton
Man of the Match: Junior Paulo
7 May 2016
17:30
Papua New Guinea  24–22  Fiji
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
Attendance: 15,225
Referee/s: Robert Hicks
Man of the Match: David Mead
2 May 2015
17:45
Fiji  22–10  Papua New Guinea
Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Attendance: 12,336
Referee/s: Matt Cecchin
Man of the Match: Marika Koroibete
19 October 2014
Fiji  40-28 Lebanon 
Report
Remondis Stadium
Referee/s: Garrad Sutton
Man of the Match: James Storer
3 May 2014
17:30
Samoa  32–16  Fiji
Sportingbet Stadium, Penrith
Attendance: 9,063
Referee/s: Ashley Klein
Man of the Match: Penani Manumalealii

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/11/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.