Fiji national rugby league team

Fiji

Nickname	The Fiji Bati
Governing body	Fiji National Rugby League
Region	Asia-Pacific
Head coach	Mick Potter
Captain	James Storer
Most caps	Wes Naiqama (14)
Top try-scorer	Akuila Uate (13)
Top point-scorer	Wes Naiqama (132)
Home stadium	National Stadium
RLIF ranking	6th
Colours
First international
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). They are currently ranked 6th in the RLIF 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

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.

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 2016 Melanesian Cup test-match.^[2] (caps and points apply for before the test-match began):

• Korbin Sims was originally named in the squad but was later ruled out due to suspension.^[3]

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Pts.	Club
FB	Kevin Naiqama	4 February 1989	9	8	Wests Tigers
FB	Tyrone Phillips	5 January 1994	1	0	Canterbury Bulldogs
WG	Sisa Waqa	29 April 1986	4	0	Canberra Raiders
WG	Akuila Uate	6 October 1987	11	52	Newcastle Knights
CE	Fabian Goodall	13 December 1994	2	8	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
CE	Brayden Wiliame	17 December 1992	1	0	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
CE	Sitiveni Moceidreke	27 November 1994	0	0	North Sydney Bears
FE	Maurice Kennedy	16 October 1988	0	0	Mount Pritchard Mounties
PR	Eloni Vunakece	27 May 1987	7	4	Sydney Roosters
PR	Daniel Saifiti	1 May 1996	1	0	Newcastle Knights
PR	Junior Roqica	13 February 1991	6	4	Cronulla Sharks
PR	Ben Nakubuwai	15 March 1996	0	0	Melbourne Storm
PR	Kane Evans	9 January 1992	6	0	Sydney Roosters
HK	James Storer (Captain)	16 February 1982	9	8	Port Kembla Blacks[4]
SR	Tui Kamikamica	18 May 1994	0	0	Unattached'
?	Tuimasi Pio Moceiwaiyevo Seci	?	0	0	?
?	Ratu Jowasa Tubailagi Drodrolagi	?	0	0	?
?	Etuate Tamanikaitai Qionimacawa	?	0	0	?
?	Iliavi Chris Ravu	?	0	0	?

Tournament history

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	To Be Determined
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)
• Superleague World Nines (1996,1997)
• Superleague Oceania Tournament (1997)
• Pacific Rim Competition (2004)

Results and fixtures

For all past match results, see the team's results page.

RLIF World Rankings
Official Rankings as of December 2015[5]
Rank	Change	Team	Points
1		New Zealand	897.00
2		Australia	719.00
3		England	655.00
4		Samoa	280.00
5		France	209.00
6		Ireland	162.00
7		Fiji	147.00
8		Wales	132.00
9		Scotland	121.00
10		United States	102.00
11		Serbia	72.00
12		Italy	65.00
13		Canada	62.00
14		Papua New Guinea	60.00
15		Russia	46.00
16		Tonga	40.00
17		Belgium	40.00
18		Malta	32.00
19		Germany	28.00
20		Lebanon	27.00
21		Spain	26.00
22		Cook Islands	23.00
23		Ukraine	22.00
24		Greece	21.00
25		Denmark	20.00
26		Norway	19.00
27		Jamaica	16.00
28		Netherlands	15.00
29		Sweden	15.00
30		Czech Republic	14.00
31		South Africa	13.00
32		Niue	4.00
33		Hungary	2.00
34		Latvia	2.00
35		Morocco	0.00

• Fiji def. Samoa 24 - 4 (2 June 2010) ^[6]
• Fiji def. Tonga 26 - 16 (31 October 2009)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 24 - 22 (24 October 2009) ^[7]
• Australia def. Fiji 52 - 0 (16 November 2008)
• Fiji def. Ireland 30 - 14 (10 November 2008)
• Fiji def. France 42-6 (1 November 2008)
• Tonga def. Fiji 14-12 (19 October 2007)
• Junior Kangaroos def Fiji 15-14 (5 October 2007)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 58-12 (26 January 2007)
• Fiji 40 def. Cook Islands 4 (7 October 2006)
• Fiji 30 def. Tonga 28 (4 October 2006)
• Samoa 30 def. Fiji 28 29 September 2006)
• Tonga def. Fiji 22-4 (2006)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 40-18 (2006)
• Fiji def. Samoa 26-4 (2006)
• Fiji tied Cook Islands 20-20 (February 2005)
• Fiji def. Niue 34-24 (23 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 20-12 (21 October 2004)
• Tonga def. Fiji 56-6 (17 October 2004)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 36-24 (17 August 2004)
• Fiji def. England "A" 44-8 (11 November 2002)
• England def. Fiji 66-4 (4 November 2000)
• Australia def. Fiji 66-8 (1 November 2000)
• Fiji def. Russia 38-12 (29 October 2000)
• Fiji def. Tonga 10-6 (3 June 2000)
• Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (27 May 2000)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 70-0 (29 April 2000)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 28-12 (25 April 2000)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 44-14 (22 April 2000)
• Fiji def. Samoa 30-4 (1999)
• Fiji def. Samoa 22-16 (1999)
• Samoa def. Fiji 6-1 (1999)
• Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 16-14 (1998)
• Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 34-12 (1998)
• Fiji def. Papua New Guinea 14-10 (1998)
• Fiji def. Tonga 22-14 (1998)
• Cook Islands def. Fiji 22-14 (1997)
• New Zealand Māoris def. Fiji 32-22 (1997)
• Fiji drew with Tonga 14-14 (1997)
• Fiji drew with Tonga 22-22 (1997)
• Australia def. NRL of Fiji 84-14 (1996)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 14-8 (1996)
• Great Britain def. Fiji 72-4 (5 October 1996)
• Australia def. Fiji 66-0 (14 October 1995)
• England def. Fiji 46-0 (11 October 1995)
• Fiji def. South Africa 52-6 (8 October 1995)
• Fiji def. France 20-12 (9 July 1994)
• Papua New Guinea def. Fiji 35-24 (1993)
• Fiji def. Cook Islands 54-6 (1992)
• Tonga def. Fiji 23-20 (1992)
• Niue def. Fiji 14-10 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. Fiji 32-18 (1992)

See also

• Fiji National Rugby League Competition
• Fiji women's national rugby league team
• Fiji National Rugby League
• Rugby league in Fiji

References

1. "Fiji vs. PNG 2015 Melanesian Cup". Nrl.com. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
2. "Pacific Test teams announced". nrl.com. 1 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
3. "Sims suspended from Fiji test". nrl.com. 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
4. Club Source
5. RLIF Rankings.
6. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=147843
7. http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=132229

External links

• Google-Video
• Fiji Rugby League Fans Forums - RugbyLeague.org
• 2008 Rugby League World Cup Site