Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Penioni Tagituimua is anticipated to be included in the Fiji Bati squad today. This comes after Api Koroisau, the Wests Tigers captain and Fiji representative, was suspended for three matches due to a dangerous tackle during his team’s loss to the Eels. Koroisau’s tackle on Clint Gutherson, occurring in the 52nd minute at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, was classified as a Grade 2 offense. As it was his second violation, it resulted in a three-match ban, even with an early guilty plea.
National coach Wise Kativerata commended Tagituimua’s commitment, stating, “In the past, Tagituimua has always given his best for the jersey. We saw that in the last World Cup; Tagituimua did a great job, and we look forward to seeing him back in the squad.”
Tagituimua’s rugby league journey began in 2013 with the Nadera Panthers in the Vodafone Cup. In 2019, he was the sole player from the Fijian domestic league selected for Fiji’s squad in a mid-season match against Lebanon. Initially appointed as the 18th man, injuries among teammates allowed him to debut as a substitute in a 56–14 victory.
Fiji Bati will launch their Pacific Bowl campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, October 19, in Fiji, followed by a match against the Cook Islands the following week. The winner of the Pacific Bowl will face the third-placed team from the Pacific Cup in a promotion-relegation match for next year’s tournament, scheduled for November 10 at CommBank Stadium. The team announcement is expected today.