Fiji - Post World Cup

[yakstorm]

Positive to see all the good news that has come out of Fiji since their strong performance in the World Cup.

Secondary Schools Rugby League:
Ratu Kadavulevu School has joined other prominent Secondary Schools, Suva Grammar, Laucala Bay Secondary School, Nasinu Secondary and Lelean Memorial School in the competition. This now means most major secondary school in Fiji now offer Rugby League.
http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=02010959af41be858184d253e91716


Western Fiji Rugby League:
Two new clubs looking to join the top competition, including the return of the Namoli Steelers.
http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=21182


Fiji - St George-Illawarra Partnership to continue
The success of the partnership in the 2008 RLWC will continue in 2009, which will only help the Fiji side come the 2009 Pacific Nations Cup.
http://www.fijilive.com/sports/news/2008/12/30/7065.Fijilive


Bati's Performance rated greatest by a Fijian side in 2008:
Only enhances the momentum the sport has gained out of taking part in the 2008 tournament.
http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=291208e5e234322642ebdfb9145441
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=109981


Bati to take on PNG early in 2009:
International between locals for both countries scheduled for Feb 2009.
http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=21062


Pacific Nations Cup confirmed for 2009 and 2010:
Means guarenteed internationals for the Fijians on top of any tours to the islands plus the Mini SPG and full SPG.
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=110157


New clubs, expanded competitions, more internationals/tests, NRL club aligned development, and strong positive media support, who said the World Cup isn't worth it?

 

[roopy]

I think every Rugby League fan who has ever watched Fiji play Union or Union 7s has thought that the natural order of things should be that Fiji should play and love Rugby League.
I can't wait to see how much they progress over the 5 years till the next World Cup.

I really hope that Aku Uate lives up to his potential and becomes a Fijian RL superstar.

 

[Fiji~Bati]

Fiji will become as good as Australia and NZ in 5-10 years. They played brilliantly at the RLWC 08.

 

[dogz08]

Bit longer then 5-10 years..

 

[Coastbloke]

Some great stuff there Yakstorm...

Fiji really deserve support after making the top 4 in the WC. Hopefully the RLIF won't drop the ball when it comes the Pacific Nations...

I know I will cop some flak for this, but just on the Fijian RL wanting a spot in the 2009 4N, I still think that if it was France that was playing in that SFS semi, the scor would not have been 52-0..I think France obviously would have lost, but I believe it would have been a much narrower scoreline and France would have not had a nil score at full time...

Just my thoughts..

 

[Fiji~Bati]

hmm well Fiji smashed France in a group match so I don't think France would have done any better..

 

[LeagueXIII]

New clubs, expanded competitions, more internationals/tests, NRL club aligned development, and strong positive media support, who said the World Cup isn't worth it?

Usually our friends in Union or AFL. Funny that.

 

[yakstorm]

More clubs looking to join:

Schools: Latter Day Saints, Marist and Queen Victoria
Juniors: Saru Dragons and Lautoka Crushers
Vodafone Cup: Davuilevu, Police and Army

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=110524

Hopefully all these clubs come off.

 

[Sam_the_man]

Yakstorm if it's ok with you i'd like to post your news at my regular website. Is that ok?

 

[roopy]

We are hearing the Fiji news, and that is probably where the World Cup has given the game the biggest boost, but i'd be surprized if every country that took part in the WC hasn't seen a boost.

 

[russ13]

Guys - I note the Fijians are taking Touch Footy seriouly.

It can only be good for the international spread RL.

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=110526

Touch plans early start to season
Saturday, January 03, 2009

ACTING Fiji Touch Rugby president Inoke Veresa says the Touch Rugby Association wants to start preparations early as they look forward to two very important tours this year.

Veresa plans to start training as early as Monday so that the players can be ready for the Mini-South Pacific Games in September. He plans to win the three gold medals for Fiji in all categories, men's, mix and Under-20.

November will see the players at the Nation State Championship in Australia.

Plans to tour Australia in July were quashed when the games were moved to March.

Veresa stressed all they were working towards was the Touch Rugby World Cup, which will be held Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2011. The last World Cup was in Stellenbosch, South Africa, in 2007 where the Fiji men's over-30 team came fourth.

This year the Fiji teams will be coached by Ilaisa Tiko (women's), Jack Sade (men's) and Anthony Kamali (mixed).

 

[deluded pom?]

The WC was worth it for this alone.

 

[brendothejet]

im going to fiji in march cannot wiat!!!

 

[Fiji~Bati]

im going to fiji in march cannot wiat!!!

are ya mate? where in Fiji are you going?

 

[ali]

Excellent news, again proving the worth of the World Cup.

ps, thanks for putting it all together Yak!

 

[russ13]

More:
http://fijidailypost.com:80/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=21232

Tadulala for league awards
5-Jan-2009 12:25 PM

AUSTRALIA Fijians Rugby League chairman James Pickering revealed there were no real surprises with the nominations for the major awards other than Semi Tadulala’s nomination who plays in the English Super League.

“The board decided to go for Semi as a nomination as he was one of Bradford’s top try-scorers crossing for 23 tries in 26 games and scored a hat-trick of tries on five separate occasions. We felt that such an achievement in any competition was worthy of being recognised for this prestigious award. Those sorts of stats are what helped Jarryd Hayne win this same award last year.”

The major awards will now go to a vote amongst a judging panel that will include several AFRL Board Members, two journalists and Petero Civinoceva himself.

Shane Morris and Joe Dakuitoga will be asked for a vote for the Australian Fijian Fiji Bati Player of the Year Award.

All the other awards will be decided by the separate coaching staffs for each respective AFRL team.

Pickering said he expected a full house on the back of the massive year that Fiji experienced in Rugby League last year.

“It was a year of firsts for Fijian Rugby League last year in terms of what events we played and the success that we had at these events also.

Our U16s won the first ever Development Cup staged by the NSWRL, our World Cup team was a semi-finalist for the first time ever and our Australian Fijian senior team went on its inaugural tour of Great Britain and finished undefeated for the tour.

This will be great night to reflect on all this as well as pay tribute to our players and sponsors who made 2008 such a memorable year.”

At the final AFRL Board meeting for 2008 held on Monday December 25 the nominations and award categories were confirmed for the second annual Petero Civinoceva Medal night to be held in the auditorium at Mascot RSL on Sunday January 25.

The categories with nominations are as follows:

The Petero Civinoceva Medal (Australian Fijian Player of the Year) - Wes Naiqama (Newcastle Knights), Ashton Sims (Brisbane Broncos), John Sutton (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Semi Tadulala (Bradford Bulls)

The James Pickering Rising Star Award – Peni Tagive (Wests Tigers), Jason Bakuya Cronulla Sharks), Stan Waqa (Sydney Roosters), Junior Roqica (Wests Tigers)

The Noa Nadruku Trophy (AFRL Player of the Year) – Lepani Waqa (St Mary’s), Samu Wara (North Sydney Bears), Esala Vute (Moore Park Broncos), Eloni Vunakece (Balmain Tigers)
Australian Fijian Fiji Bati Player of the Year – Jarryd Hayne (Parramatta Eels), Aaron Groome (Canterbury Bulldogs), Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights), Ashton Sims (Brisbane Broncos)

The other categories without nominations are as follows AFRL 7s Player of the Year, AFRL U16s Development Cup Best Forward, AFRL U16s Development Cup Best Back, AFRL U16s Development Cup Best and Fairest, AFRL Senior Team UK Tourist Best Forward, AFRL Senior Team UK Tourist Best Back, AFRL Senior Team UK Tourist Best and Fairest.

 

[brendothejet]

are ya mate? where in Fiji are you going?

Going to Nadi for 5 days. should be absolutely ace.

 

[russ13]

More:

http://fijidailypost.com/news.php?section=3&fijidailynews=21262

26 teams confirmed for league tournament
6-Jan-2009 10:23 AM

TWENTY SIX teams have been confirmed for the Vodafone one-day Rugby League 7s tournament that will be held at the Suva Grammar School grounds later this month.

This was confirmed by Fiji National Rugby League Administration manager Rusiate Ratakele yesterday.

Ratakele confirmed that only 26 teams would be part taking in the tournament with Police being the only new club to enter the FNRL ranks.

Their involvement comes in the wake of their World Cup winning performance in Australia last year.

“The Police team is the only new club that has entered FNRL and they will be sending two teams,” he said.

While there have been very few people playing league fans can be assured that players that play rugby union will also be playing in the league competition especially in the off season as the Fiji Rugby Union has wiped out the Colonial Cup giving rugby union more life-time in a year.

The other teams will be provided by the 10 clubs that have already been registered with FNRL.

All clubs from the eastern and western division will be sending two teams each for the tournament except for a few.

“Kadar Buksh - Saru Dragons, Islands Electric Lautoka - Crushers and Dee Cees - Nadera Panthers are the only teams that will field three teams.”

Meanwhile, FNRL is still waiting for the International Rugby League Federation (IRLF) to open after the festive season.

“We are still waiting for the IRLF office to open sometimes this week so that we can get the rules for the 7s game,” Ratakele said.

“We need to get the rules because this is the same set of rules that will be used at the Mini Pacific Games.”

He added the selection criteria would not change and warned that players needed to be very good in three areas.

“Speed, general skills, and strong defence are the main key of rugby league and our
selection criteria will be based on that,” Ratakele said.

By ISAAC LAL

 

[roopy]

Later this month?
How great would it be for some aussie sides to get over to Fiji for a few days of sevens?
The Fijians are masters of 7s.

 

[Fiji~Bati]

Later this month?
How great would it be for some aussie sides to get over to Fiji for a few days of sevens?
The Fijians are masters of 7s.

Yer mate we are the best at 7's, hope Ruder can return to 7's