For hooker Kurt Donoghoe, wearing the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey goes beyond mere representation of Fiji; it represents a significant family connection. Donoghoe last visited Fiji for a family reunion at the age of 12 and now, 12 years later, he graces the field in front of them.
At 22 years old, Donoghoe has the opportunity to play for the Bati thanks to his paternal grandmother, who hails from the Thaggard family in Savusavu. He made his debut for the Bati during last year’s Pacific Bowl Championship in Papua New Guinea.
“I definitely feel closer to the jersey this year playing in Fiji,” Donoghoe expressed. He was able to connect with relatives he had never met before, making his experience particularly meaningful. “I got to play in front of them, and receiving my jersey after the game made me feel much closer to Fiji compared to playing in Papua New Guinea last year. Playing over here was much more special just seeing that side of the family.”
While Donoghoe has friends in the Cook Islands Aitu, he is focused on the upcoming match against them on Saturday. He anticipates a challenging contest, stating, “It’ll be a good game; they gave us a tough run last year. It’s going to be an exciting match and it will definitely be a close one; they’ve been building from last year as well. They’ll be coming at us, especially after our performance last weekend.”
The match is set to kick off at 8:10 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Additionally, Donoghoe has a one-year contract with the Dolphins and debuted in Round 1 of the 2023 NRL season against the Sydney Roosters. He has since re-signed with the club until the end of 2025 and participated in 10 matches during the 2024 NRL season, helping the Dolphins secure a 10th-place finish on the points table.