Fiji national rugby league team

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.

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.

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.[2] 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.

In the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in New Zealand & Australia, Fiji topped Group D before recording their biggest upset victory, defeating New Zealand 4–2 in the quarter finals. They then lost to Australia 54–6 in the semi finals.

Fiji automatically qualified for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup having reached the semi finals of the previous Rugby League World Cup. The 2021 tournament will take place in England.

17 man squad vs PNG Kumuls for the 2019 Pacific Test.[3]

Pos.	Player	Club
Fullback	Sitiveni Moceidreke	Sunshine Coast Falcons
Wing	Maika Sivo	Parramatta Eels
Centre	Taane Milne	New Zealand Warriors
Centre	Brayden Wiliame	Catalan Dragons
Wing	Suliasi Vunivalu	Melbourne Storm
Five-eighth	Kevin Naiqama	St Helens
Halfback	Brandon Wakeham	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Prop	Kane Evans	Parramatta Eels
Hooker	Joe Lovodua	St George Illawarra Dragons
Prop	Tui Kamikamica	Melbourne Storm
Second-row	Viliame Kikau	Penrith Panthers
Second-row	Ben Nakubuwai	Salford Red Devils
Lock	D'Rhys Miller	Wentworthville Magpies
Second-row	Lamar Manuel-Liolevave	Tweed Heads Seagulls
Halfback	Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu	Western Suburbs Magpies
Second-row	King Vuniyayawa	New Zealand Warriors
Halfback	Penioni Tagituimua	Nadera Panthers

Fiji have also participated in:

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

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

2019 Oceania Cup – Pool B

9 November 2019 17:20 NZDT (UTC+13)

Fiji	22 – 20	Papua New Guinea
Try: Kamikamica, Kikau, Nakubuwai, Wiliame Goal: Wakeham (3/4)		Try: Boas, Gebbie, Martin Goal: Martin (4/4)

Rugby League Park, Christchurch[6] Attendance: 8,875 Referee: Chris Kendall (England)

Team details

FB 1 Sitiveni Moceidreke WG 2 Maika Sivo CE 3 Taane Milne CE 4 Brayden Wiliame WG 5 Suliasi Vunivalu FE 6 Kevin Naiqama (c) HB 7 Brandon Wakeham PR 8 Kane Evans HK 9 Joe Lovodua PR 10 Tui Kamikamica SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Ben Nakubuwai LK 13 D'Rhys Miller Interchange: BE 14 Lamar Liolevave BE 15 Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu BE 18 King Vuniyayawa BE 19 Penioni Tagituimua Coach: Brandon Costin FB 1 Alex Johnston WG 2 Edene Gebbie CE 3 Daniel Russell CE 4 Justin Olam WG 5 Terry Wapi FE 6 Kyle Laybutt HB 7 Watson Boas PR 8 Wellington Albert HK 9 Wartovo Puara PR 10 Luke Page SR 11 Nixon Putt SR 12 Rhyse Martin (c) LK 13 Moses Meninga Interchange: BE 14 Edwin Ipape BE 15 Stanton Albert BE 16 Enock Maki BE 17 Stargroth Amean Coach: Michael Marum Touch judges: Chris Butler (Australia) Paki Parkinson (New Zealand) Video referee: Shayne Hayne (Australia)

Notes:

• Daniel Russell (Papua New Guinea) made his Test debut, while Alex Johnston made his debut for Papua New Guinea having previously represented Australia.

2019 Oceania Cup – Pool B

2 November 2019 14:20 NZDT (UTC+13)

Samoa	18 – 44	Fiji
Try: Taufua (2), Lafai, Mulitalo Goal: Lafai (1/4)	Report	Try: Kikau (2), Miller, Lovodua, Lumelume, Naiqama, Ratuvakacereivalu, Wiliame Goal: Wakeham (5/6), Moceidreke (1/2)

Eden Park, Auckland[7] Attendance: 25,257 Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia)

Team details

FB 1 Ronaldo Mulitalo WG 2 Jorge Taufua CE 3 Tim Lafai CE 4 Joseph Leilua (c) WG 5 Brian To'o FE 6 Marion Seve HB 7 Jarome Luai PR 8 Junior Paulo HK 9 Danny Levi PR 10 Martin Taupau SR 11 Tino Fa'asuamaleaui SR 12 Michael Chee-Kam LK 14 Dunamis Lui Interchange: BE 13 Bunty Afoa BE 15 Moses Leota BE 16 Luciano Leilua BE 17 James Gavet Coach: Matt Parish FB 1 Sitiveni Moceidreke WG 2 Isaac Lumelume CE 3 Taane Milne CE 4 Brayden Wiliame WG 5 Suliasi Vunivalu FE 6 Kevin Naiqama (c) HB 7 Brandon Wakeham PR 8 Kane Evans HK 9 Joe Lovodua PR 10 Tui Kamikamica SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Ben Nakubuwai LK 13 D'Rhys Miller Interchange: BE 14 Lamar Liolevave BE 15 Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu BE 18 King Vuniyayawa BE 19 Penioni Tagituimua Coach: Brandon Costin Touch judges: Paki Parkinson (New Zealand) Stephane Vincent (France) Video referee: Jared Maxwell (Australia)

Notes:

• Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Luciano Leilua, Moses Leota, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Brian To'o (all Samoa), Lamar Liolevave, and Joseph Ratuvakacereivalu (both Fiji) made their Test debuts, while Danny Levi made his debut for Samoa having previously represented New Zealand.

22 June 2019 17:40 AEST (UTC+10)

Fiji	58 – 14	Lebanon
Try: Bukuya (2), Sivo (2), Vunivalu (2), Lovodua, Kamikamica, Kikau, Wakeham Goal: Wakeham (8/9), Roqica (1/1)		Try: Miski (2), Lichaa Goal: Maarbani (1/2), Robinson (0/1)

Leichhardt Oval, Sydney Attendance: 8,408 Referee: Matt Cecchin (Australia)[8]

Team details

FB 1 Marcelo Montoya WG 2 Suliasi Vunivalu CE 3 Isaac Lumelume CE 4 Mikaele Ravalawa WG 5 Maika Sivo FE 6 Sitiveni Moceidreke HB 7 Brandon Wakeham PR 8 Tui Kamikamica HK 9 Joe Lovodua PR 10 Korbin Sims (c) SR 11 Viliame Kikau SR 12 Taane Milne LK 13 Jayson Bukuya Interchange: BE 14 D'Rhys Miller BE 15 Salesi Fainga'a BE 16 Junior Roqica BE 17 Penioni Tagituimua Coach: Brandon Costin FB 1 Anthony Layoun WG 2 Jayden El-Jalkh CE 3 Bilal Maarbani CE 4 Allan Lockwood WG 5 Abbas Miski FE 6 Reece Robinson HB 7 Robbie Farah (c) PR 8 Kayne Kalache HK 9 Michael Lichaa PR 10 Tim Mannah SR 11 Ahmad Ellaz SR 12 Elie El-Zakhem LK 13 James Roumanos Interchange: BE 14 Jacob Kiraz BE 15 Jalal Bazzaz BE 16 Toufic El Hage BE 17 Nick Kassis Coach: Rick Stone Touch judges:[8] Ricky MacFarlane (Australia) Todd Smith (Australia) Video referees:[8] Henry Perenara (New Zealand) Beau Scott (Australia)

• Isaac Lumelume, D'Rhys Miller, Mikaele Ravalawa, Maika Sivo, Penioni Tagituimua, Brandon Wakeham (all Fiji) made their Test debuts.