Wearing the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey holds special significance for hooker Kurt Donoghoe, as it connects him to his Fijian heritage and reinforces family bonds. Donoghoe last visited Fiji for a family reunion when he was 12, and now, 12 years later, he is proud to play for his ancestral homeland.
At 22, Donoghoe qualifies for the Bati through his paternal grandmother, who hails from the Thaggard family in Savusavu. He made his debut for the team during last year’s Pacific Bowl Championship held in Papua New Guinea.
“This year, playing in Fiji has brought me much closer to the jersey,” Donoghoe expressed. “I had the opportunity to meet family members I had never encountered before, which was really special. Playing in front of them and receiving my jersey after the game made me feel more connected to Fiji compared to last year’s experience in Papua New Guinea.”
Looking ahead to a challenging match against the Cook Islands Aitu, Donoghoe, who has close friends on the opposing team, acknowledged the intensity of the upcoming game. “I expect it to be a good match; they put up a solid fight against us last year. It will be an exciting and closely contested game, especially since they will likely field a stronger team this time around.”
The match is set to kick off at 8:10 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Donoghoe signed a one-year contract with the Dolphins and made his NRL debut in Round 1 of the 2023 season against the Sydney Roosters. He has since re-signed with the club until the end of 2025 and played in 10 matches during the 2024 NRL season, with the Dolphins finishing 10th on the points table.