Handball Fiji has launched a new national elimination cup designed to accelerate talent identification and build competitive squads for upcoming international assignments, the sport’s administrators announced on Tuesday. The competition features four women’s teams and two men’s teams and will run across a multi-week schedule, providing a key selection window for national coaches.
Handball Fiji secretary Lusi Rokoura said the elimination cup is the latest step in efforts to establish stronger domestic pathways since the sport was first introduced locally after the 2016 Rio Olympics. “Following the Rio Olympics, a few of us came together to introduce handball in Fiji because we saw its potential and how well suited it is for our people,” Rokoura said, highlighting the game’s blend of netball, basketball, volleyball and athletics as a natural fit for Fijian players’ strength and agility.
The inaugural line-up includes women’s sides from Namosi, Tailevu, Golden Eagles and Unity; two men’s teams are also entered. Matches are scheduled over a six-week competition period, with organisers planning fixtures each Saturday for the next five weeks as part of the opening schedule. Rokoura said performances in the cup will form the basis of national squad selections: “This competition is forming the base for selecting our players. Those who perform well and commit themselves will earn their place in the national teams.”
The cup also signals Handball Fiji’s intent to widen participation beyond club sides. Officials say they plan to draw on tertiary institutions, with the Fiji National University and the University of the South Pacific targeted for inclusion in coming rounds. Bringing university teams into the fold is intended to broaden the player pool and create clearer pathways from grassroots and schools into representative ranks.
The elimination cup comes as the sport gears up for international engagements. Rokoura confirmed the under-17 women’s team is scheduled to travel to Romania later this year, while the men’s under-19 side is expected to compete in New Zealand. Those assignments increase the urgency of the domestic selection process and explain why administrators have prioritised a competition that can both expose players to regular match play and allow coaches to assess candidates under pressure.
Handball Fiji officials say they will continue to promote participation and are encouraging more players to get involved in the new competition. The elimination cup is being framed as a foundational programme — one designed to build depth, test talent in competitive settings and prepare teams for the international calendar that lies ahead.
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