Fiji national rugby league team

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Fiji
Badge of Fiji team
Nickname The Bati
Governing body Fiji Rugby League
Region Oceania
Head coach Fiji Joe Dakuitoga
Captain Wes Naiqama[1]
Home stadium Post Fiji Stadium
RLIF ranking 8th
Colours
First international
Samoa Western Samoa 32–18 Fiji 
(Apia, Samoa; 1992)
Biggest win
 Cook Islands 6–54 Fiji 
(Suva, Fiji; 1992)
Biggest defeat
Australia Newcastle Knights 72-0 Fiji 
(Marathon Stadium, Newcastle; 13 February 2011)
World Cup
Appearances 3 (first time in 1995)
Best result Semi Final, 2008

The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati (pronounced [mˈbatʃi]), represents Fiji in the sport of rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 1992. Members of the team are selected from the domestic Fijian competition, as well as from competitions in New Zealand and Australia. For the 2000 and 2008 World Cups the Bati were captained by Lote Tuqiri and Wes Naiqama respectively. They have produced players like Petero Civoniceva , Akuila Uate, Lote Tuqiri, Jarryd Hayne, Wes and Kevin Naiqama, Peni Tagive and Sisa Waqa.

Contents

[edit] History

The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1996 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.

[edit] 2008 Rugby League World Cup

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.

[edit] 2011 Squad

2010 Fiji
The Bati Interchange Coaching staff

Head coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain
  • (vc) Vice captain

Updated: 19 April 2010
Source(s): 2010 Squad vs Bundaberg Red Cup Rep team[2]


[edit] Competitions

Fiji have participated in:

[edit] Results

Top 27 Rankings as of November 2011[3]
Rank Change Team Points
1 steady  Australia 1,406.00
2  New Zealand 991.00
3  England 799.00
4  Papua New Guinea 260.00
5  France 246.00
6 increase1  Wales 245.00
7  Fiji 145.00
8 decrease2  Samoa 123.00
9 steady  Tonga 82.00
10  Scotland 75.00
11 increase2  United States 65.00
12 decrease1  Ireland 64.00
13 increase2  Italy 55.00
14  Lebanon 52.00
15 decrease1  Serbia 46.00
16 decrease4  Cook Islands 42.00
17 increase2  Russia 39.00
18 steady  Norway 38.00
19 decrease2  Germany 34.00
20 steady  Malta 26.00
21  Canada 24.00
22 increase4  South Africa 23.00
23 increase2  Jamaica 20.00
24 decrease2  Latvia 19.00
25  Ukraine 19.00
26  Czech Republic 14.00
27 steady  Sweden 2.00
steady  Denmark Unranked
 Hungary
 India
 Indonesia
 Japan
 Saudi Arabia
 Morocco
 Netherlands
 Pakistan
 Philippines
 Singapore
  • Newcastle def. Fiji 72 - 0 (13 February 2011)
  • Fiji def. Samoa 24 - 4 (2 June 2010) [4]
  • Cook Islands def. Fiji 24 - 22 (24 October 2009) [5]
  • 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)
  • 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)

[edit] National Rugby League of Fiji

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 rebel "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.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Keeble, Brett (3 September 2010). "Knights name Kevin Naiqama to make NRL debut". Newcastle Herald (Australia: Fairfax Media). http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/knights-name-kevin-naiqama-to-make-nrl-debut/1931998.aspx. Retrieved 5 October 2010. 
  2. ^ http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/?s=article-display&id=31192
  3. ^ RLIF; RLIF Rankings
  4. ^ http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=147843
  5. ^ http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=132229

[edit] External links

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