At just 19 years old, Ilisapeci Bari is proud to carry on her father’s sports legacy. This time, she is not following in his footsteps in rugby union but has instead joined the Fiji Bulikula team for the Pacific Bowl Championship, participating in rugby league.
Bari is the daughter of the renowned former national rugby star Manasa Bari, a winger who played on the men’s rugby sevens team that clinched the Rugby World Cup sevens in 1997. He was also among the first Fijian players to compete in Super Rugby, notably for the Highlanders, earning the nickname “Black Pearl.”
Now, the Tavualevu native plays in the front row for the Canterbury Bulldogs. “I started playing rugby league back in 2022,” she shared with SUNsports. “My grandmother and dad encouraged me to take up the sport.”
Bari expressed her desire to give back to her family in Fiji, stating, “It takes a whole village to raise a child. I’m trying to give back to them, and that is my main goal.” She noted that while the pressure is significant, the support from her family motivates her on the field.
She also attributed her selection for the Bulikula team to divine intervention. “I initially played Australian Football League (AFL) in Darwin, Australia. My parents were hesitant about me playing rugby until my dad finally agreed,” she recalled. After playing for the Darwin Sisters, she was selected to represent Fiji in 2022 and was subsequently scouted by the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney.
Bari revealed that her father was in high spirits upon hearing about her selection for the Bulikula team. “He never imagined that one of his children would represent Fiji, especially at such a young age. He believes it was all part of God’s plan, and I encourage young girls out there to seize their opportunities because they come once in a lifetime.” Bari is also related to former Fiji Bati forward Eloni Vunakece.