Fiji’s initiative to establish men’s and women’s teams in the 2026 National Rugby League (NRL) gained significant momentum recently. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has reached out to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to express his backing for the bid and emphasize the necessity for Fiji to receive an expansion license to participate in the NRL Premiership.
In a conversation with SUNsports on Wednesday, Rabuka reaffirmed his commitment to advocating for Fiji’s proposal. He indicated, “I will continue to communicate with them (his Australian counterparts) regarding Fiji’s bid.”
As a Life Member of the Fiji National Rugby League, Rabuka outlined the numerous benefits that the sport could bring to the region, including strengthening the Fiji-Australia relationship and positively impacting local communities, as well as the corporate and tourism sectors in Fiji.
Rabuka’s outreach comes after the Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s bid in March, marking a notable development. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Biman Prasad mentioned that the National Budget includes tax incentives for businesses interested in sponsoring the Fiji men’s and women’s teams for the NRL.
Minister for Youth and Sports Jese Saukuru emphasized Fiji’s readiness, stating that many players are already competing in the NRL, making it a viable pathway for local talent. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure a new international stadium in partnership with the Fiji Sports Council.
If Fiji secures the NRL license, the country could host 17 home games, in addition to three pre-season matches and possibly four playoff games should they qualify.
Viliame Gavoka, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, expressed optimism about the bid’s potential impact on sports tourism, noting the substantial number of events that could take place in Fiji. He highlighted that rugby league enjoys immense popularity in Australia – Fiji’s primary market – and the potential benefits for foreign market engagement could be significant.
In related news, two Fijian players, Sunia Turuva and Tui Kamikamica, are set to play in the NRL Grand Final this Sunday at Accor Stadium in Sydney. They represent the defending champions, Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm, respectively, and are part of the national rugby league team, Fiji Bati.
Fijian players with a history of participating in NRL Grand Finals include notable names like Noa Nadruku, Petero Civoniceva, Lote Tuqiri, and many others.