Rugby league in Fiji

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.{{cite web|date=13 August 2007|title=Gentle giants who left big impression|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/gentle-giants-who-left-big-1040764|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=13 April 2021}}{{cite web|date=7 December 2008|title=Rochdale Welcomes Australian Fijians|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2008/12/07/rochdale-welcomes-australian-fijians/|work=Fiji Sun|access-date=13 April 2021}}{{cite web|last=Swettenham|first=Lee|date=18 October 2013|title=Fantastic Fijian four created buzz of excitement at Rochdale Hornets|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/local-news/fantastic-fijian-four-created-buzz-6207025|work=Manchester Evening News|access-date=13 April 2021}}

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.{{cite news|last=Sharma|first=Davendra|date=March 1992|title=The World Rugby Sevens could have us hooked|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-344847618|work=Pacific Islands Monthly|volume=62|number=3|page=47|access-date=7 December 2021|via=Trove}} 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.{{cite news|last=Masters|first=Roy|date=4 February 1993|title=One-eyed Fijians ready to give the Sevens a real shake|work=Sydney Morning Herald|page=42|via=NewsBank}} The competition used match payments to attract players from rugby union, with FJ$40 (AU$38) offered per win and FJ$10 per loss.{{cite web|date=7 July 1993|title=Fiji worried over losses to league|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127237663|work=Canberra Times|page=31|access-date=13 December 2021|via=Trove}}{{cite news|date=8 July 1994|title=Pride to the fore as Fiji league comes of age|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118189432|work=Canberra Times|page=30|access-date=13 December 2021|via=Trove}} The sport was supported by Sitiveni Rabuka, who served as President of the Fiji Rugby League (FRL) during that period.{{cite news|date=27 March 1992|title=Arthurson endorsement for Rabuka|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122406237|work=Canberra Times|page=7|access-date=13 April 2021|via=Trove}}

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.{{cite news|last=Mascord|first=Steve|date=12 July 1996|title=Problems in paradise|work=Sydney Morning Herald|page=34|via=NewsBank}}

2001 was the last year in which payments were offered to rugby league players in Fiji.{{cite episode|series=Rise With Us|date=2013|network=Fiji One}}

The first women's club rugby league match in the country was played on 26 March 2016, between Bemana and the Coastal Roos.{{cite web|last=Malo|first=Maciu|date=26 March 2016|title=Rugby league history|url=https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/rugby-league-history/|work=Fiji Times|access-date=7 December 2021}}{{cite web|last=Cabenatabua|first=Leone|date=27 March 2016|title=Watch St Theresa, Teams Warned|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2016/03/27/watch-st-theresa-teams-warned/|work=Fiji Sun|access-date=7 December 2021}}{{cite web|date=28 March 2016|title=Nadroga host first women's rugby league match in Fiji|url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2016/03/28/nadroga-host-first-womens-rugby-league-match-in-fiji/|website=asiapacificrl.com|access-date=7 December 2021}}

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.{{cite web|last=McDonald|first=Margie|date=24 February 2021|title=Fiji Silktails return to NSW rugby league|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/02/24/fiji-silktails-return-to-nsw-rugby-league/|website=NRL.com|access-date=13 April 2021}} The team draws its players from Fiji's local competition.

{{Main|Fiji National Rugby League competition}}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.

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.{{cite web|date=18 January 2021|title=Fiji's Vodafone Cup set to expand in 2021|url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2021/01/18/fijis-vodafone-cup-set-to-expand-in-2021/|website=asiapacificrl.com|access-date=3 January 2022}} The 2022 season featured 30 teams.{{Cite web |last=League |first=Asia Pacific Rugby |date=2022-02-19 |title=Record number of teams to take part in Fiji Men's Vodafone Cup |url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/02/19/record-number-of-teams-to-take-part-in-fiji-mens-vodafone-cup/ |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=Asia Pacific Rugby League |language=en-US}}

An * indicates that the match was decided in extra time.

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.{{cite web|date=11 August 2017|title=Fiji Inter-Zone competition adds Women's League|url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2017/08/11/fiji-inter-zone-competition-adds-womens-league/|website=asiapacificrl.com|access-date=3 January 2022}}

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

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.

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

In 2016, the Fiji Times partnered with the FNRL to become the official newspaper of rugby league in the country.{{cite web|date=28 June 2016|title=Fiji National Rugby League announce partnership with Fiji Times|url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2016/06/28/fiji-national-rugby-league-announce-partnership-with-fiji-times/|website=asiapacificrl.com|access-date=7 December 2021}}

Beginning in 2018, two NRL matches are broadcast live on free-to-air television each weekend by FBC TV.{{cite web|last=Tavaga|first=Meli|date=7 March 2018|title=FBC TV to air NRL matches LIVE on free-to-air channel|url=https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/sports/fbc-tv-to-air-nrl-matches-live-on-free-to-air-channel/|work=FBC News|access-date=7 December 2021}}

{{Main|Fiji national rugby league team|Fiji women's national rugby league team}}

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 {{rlnt|wPNG}} the following year.

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.

• Sisa Waqa (Nadera Panthers){{cite web|last=Bola|first=Vuniwaqa|date=2 December 2008|title=Sisa Joins NRL Club|url=https://fijisun.com.fj/2008/12/02/sisa-joins-nrl-club/|work=Fiji Sun|access-date=13 April 2021}}
• Pio Seci (Nabua Broncos){{cite web|last=Komaisavai|first=Peni|date=2 August 2022|title=Fiji local debuts in NRL|url=https://pacificadvocate.com/10858-2/|work=Pacific Advocate|access-date=25 March 2023}}
• Tikiko Noke (Lautoka Crushers)
• Vuate Karawalevu (Naitasiri Rugby)
• Ilaitia Tagituimua (Nadera Panthers)
• Viliame Kikau (Marist Brothers)

{{Portal|Sports}}

• Fiji National Rugby League
• Fiji National Rugby League competition

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.playtheball.com/rlwc00/country/fiji.asp Fiji history from playtheball.com]

{{Rugby League in Oceania}}

{{Rugby League Playing Nations links}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rugby League In Fiji}}