Canterbury Bulldogs hooker Penioni Tagituimua is set to be included in the Fiji Bati squad, which will be announced today. This comes after Wests Tigers captain and Fiji representative Api Koroisau was suspended for three matches due to a dangerous tackle during his team’s defeat to the Eels, preventing him from participating in the upcoming Pacific Championships.
Koroisau’s tackle on Clint Gutherson in the 52nd minute at Campbelltown Sports Stadium was classified as a Grade 2 offense. As this marks his second infraction, he received a three-game suspension along with the option for an early guilty plea.
National coach Wise Kativerata expressed confidence in Tagituimua’s abilities, noting, “In the past, Tagituimua has always given his best for the jersey. We saw that in the last World Cup; he did a great job, and we look forward to seeing him back in the squad.”
Tagituimua’s rugby league journey began in 2013 with the Nadera Panthers in the Vodafone Cup competition. In 2019, he was the sole player from the Fijian domestic league to be chosen for Fiji’s squad for a mid-season match against Lebanon. Although initially named the 18th man, he made his Test debut due to injuries and player unavailability, contributing to a convincing 56–14 victory.
Fiji Bati will kick off their Pacific Bowl campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, October 19, in Fiji before facing the Cook Islands the following week. The winner of the Pacific Bowl will compete against the third-placed team in the Pacific Cup on Sunday, November 10, at CommBank Stadium in a promotion-relegation match for next year’s tournament.
The squad is anticipated to be announced today.