I am concerned that after the World Cup teams like PNG, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa will be left to play only one off tests until the next World Cup. Wouldn't it be great if there was an annual competition where these nations played each other with the winner competing against NZ, Australia and England when the Tri-Nations is played in the Southern ...

Junior Bati to face Aussies RODNEY DUTHIESaturday, April 12, 2008 + Enlarge this image Basics ... Kaliova Tani goes through a passing drill under the watchful eyes of Vodafone Fiji Bati assistant coach Shane Morris at the Nadera ground in Nasinu. PLANS are being made to have the Junior Fiji Bati side face their Australian counterparts ...

KNIGHTS speedster Akuila Uate is every bit the athlete, right down to the brashness and the cheek. ''Yeah, I could run 10 seconds,'' he calmly told The Sunday Telegraph. ''Like anything, if you work hard then you can do it.'' Uate might be on P-plates but he is the fastest man in the NRL and the game's next sensation, according to former ...

Aussie Fijians take offence ZANZEER SINGHWednesday, February 27, 2008 THE Australian Fijian Rugby League will not stop any of its players from vying for a spot in the Fiji Bati team despite severing its ties with the Fiji National Rugby League. The AFRL distanced itself from the FNRL after Australian coach Arthur Kitinas and trainer Steve ...

Rugby league spreads wing Monday, February 18, 2008 Uate Soko, of Grammar Lions, is tackled by some Nasinu Panthers in the Vodafone Secondary Schools competition THE Fiji National Rugby League hopes to spread the gospel to more schools as the Vodafone Secondary Schools competition got underway over the weekend. ''We're hoping to have ...

Lions maul tough Panthers RODNEY DUTHIESunday, February 17, 2008 VODAFONE Fiji Bati elite squad member Josaia Cikaitoga led his MH Suva Grammar Lions team to a 16-12 win over a game Nasinu Secondary School Panthers outfit. The win put Lion's defence of the Vodafone Secondary Schools Rugby League Competition title on track at Bidesi Park in ...

FNRL: Play rugby union at 'own risk' Tuesday, February 12, 2008 THE Fiji National Rugby League has warned elite players injured while playing at rugby union tournaments will be dropped. This comes after it was brought to FNRL board's attention that some Bati reps were injured after playing in union sevens tournaments. As a result, the ...

Fijians win Down Under Tuesday, February 12, 2008 THE Australian Fijian Rugby League side won the trophy final at the Cabramatta 9s tournament in Sydney over the weekend after beating Mounties. The side, which had the services of Fijian star Wes Naiqama, beat Mounties 26-6. The tournament consisted of 16 teams, comprising of 4 pools. There ...

THE Fiji National Rugby League board has decided to scrap the State of Origin series. The series will now be replaced by the Battle of the Bati which will act as a trial for the Rugby League World Cup. The FNRL board met on Thursday afternoon and endorsed the change. Thirty local players will be selected from the Battle of the Bati to compete ...

Koroi eyes Tigers stripes RODNEY DUTHIEFriday, January 18, 2008 FIJI Bati centre Sevanaia Koroi FIJI Bati centre Sevanaia Koroi (pictured) continues to train with National Rugby League club the Wests Tigers in Australia in a bid to secure a contract with the Sydney side. The Burenitu villager from Ra, completed his second week of ...