The Kaiviti Silktails have officially announced a new partnership with Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs that will last for the next three years. Founded in 2020, the Silktails began their journey in the Ron Massey Cup and have since moved up to the Jersey Flegg Cup, focusing on identifying and nurturing rugby league talent from Fiji.
In recent years, the Bulldogs have strengthened their ties to Fiji, particularly after signing Fiji Bati International Viliame Kikau. The establishment of ‘The Kikau Academy’ has enabled the club’s Ron Massey Cup and Jersey Flegg teams to visit Fiji three times in the past year.
This new affiliation aligns with the upcoming 2025 Pacific Championships, where the Bulldogs will have a notable presence of Fijian players, including Kikau, Kitione Kautoga, Jethro Rinakama, and Penioni Tagituimua, alongside Bulikula representatives Ilisapeci Bari, Abigayle Sekitoga, Latisha Smythe, and Nanise Vakacavu. Additionally, the Bulldogs have announced the return of Fijian international Marcelo Montoya for the 2025 season.
Phil Gould AM, General Manager of Football, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, emphasizing the potential to create a robust pathway for Fijian players into the NRL. “This partnership is foundational for advancing rugby league in Fiji,” Gould remarked. “We already have a substantial representation of Fijian players at our club, including Viliame Kikau in the NRL and Latisha Smythe in the NRLW, and we anticipate significant growth in this pathway in the coming years.”
Kaiviti Silktails Chairman Peter Civoniceva praised the Bulldogs’ Pathways Program and expressed excitement about the collaboration. “We are thrilled to partner with the Bulldogs; this deal holds many benefits for our club,” Civoniceva said. “This year’s success of their NRL team has captured the imagination of rugby league fans. Their achievements are a result of Phil Gould and Adam Hartigan’s work with the Pathways Program, and it was essential for us to align with such a strong initiative.”
He further noted the large Fijian ex-pat community in the Canterbury-Bankstown area and commended the Bulldogs for their active involvement in Fiji over the past two seasons, highlighting the commitment shown by Gould and Hartigan during their recent meetings.
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