http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=382802
THE Lions from England could be coming in to play one match with the Vodafone Fiji Bati before next year's Rugby League World Cup in Australia.
Fiji National Rugby League CEO Timoci Naleba confirmed the plan was to have the English side in Fiji, seven days before the Bati leave for Australia to be part of the RLWC.
"We have requested a game against them to serve as a pre-world cup match before we leave for Australia," Naleba said.
"Apart from the Lions, there are also plans to have international tours next year for the local players as a form of buildup towards the RLWC in October."
Naleba said local players currently on an off-season program would have another tour of Canada after the FNRL office received an invitation from the Canadian Rugby League. The team would also travel to Hawaii to be part of the Ohana Cup which they were a part of earlier this year and a tour to France to play against the French Rugby League team.
"These tours are for local players and if their fitness is up to the standard we want, which I'm sure the local boys will achieve," Naleba said.
"There are also talks to request the Australian A team for a game against them."
Naleba said they were now looking at players with a holistic approach to allow them to be represented at the RLWC which would encourage more upcoming local players.
The Vodafone Fiji Bati will face USA in their first game on October 28 in Townsville on November 5 against Wales and their last pool game would be against Italy.
By the looks of the pool Fiji is in, they will be up against the Kangaroos in the quarter-finals.