Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Penioni Tagituimua is anticipated to be announced in the Fiji Bati squad today. This comes after Wests Tigers captain and Fiji representative Api Koroisau was suspended for three matches due to a dangerous tackle during his team’s defeat to the Eels, ruling him out of the Pacific Championships.
Koroisau’s tackle on Clint Gutherson was deemed a Grade 2 offense and, being a repeat offender, he faces a three-game suspension following an early guilty plea.
“Tagituimua has consistently given his all for the jersey,” stated national coach Wise Kativerata. “We witnessed his exceptional performance during the last World Cup, and we are eager to see him return to the squad.”
Tagituimua’s rugby league career began in 2013 when he played for the Nadera Panthers in the Vodafone Cup. In 2019, he became the sole representative from the Fijian domestic competition to be included in Fiji’s squad for a mid-season match against Lebanon. Initially chosen as the 18th man, injuries opened up opportunities for him, and he made his Test debut off the interchange bench in a 56-14 victory.
Fiji Bati will start their Pacific Bowl campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, October 19, in Fiji, before facing the Cook Islands the following week. The Pacific Bowl winner will then compete against the third-placed team in the Pacific Cup at CommBank Stadium on Sunday, November 10, in a promotion-relegation match for next year’s tournament. The squad is expected to be announced today.