Wearing the Vodafone Fiji Bati jersey represents more than just national pride for hooker Kurt Donoghoe; it has deepened his familial connections. Donoghoe last visited Fiji at the age of 12 for a family reunion and now, 12 years later, he has the opportunity to play in front of his relatives.
The 22-year-old player qualifies to represent Fiji through his paternal grandmother, who hails from the Thaggard family in Savusavu. After debuting for the Bati in last year’s Pacific Bowl Championship in Papua New Guinea, he is excited to be playing in Fiji this time around.
“I definitely feel closer to the jersey this year playing in Fiji,” Donoghoe remarked. He had the chance to meet family members for the first time and expressed how special it was to play in front of them and receive his jersey after the game.
On Saturday, Donoghoe will face friends on the Cook Islands Aitu team, but he remains focused on the match ahead. He anticipates a challenging game, stating, “I think it’ll be a good game. They gave us a good run last year.”
The match is set to kick off at 8:10 PM at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Donoghoe has 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 re-signed with the club until the end of 2025 and participated in 10 matches during the 2024 NRL season, with the team finishing 10th on the points table.