At just 19 years old, Ilisapeci Bari is proud to carry on her father’s sports legacy. This time, however, she is making her mark in rugby league as part of the Fiji Bulikula team competing in the Pacific Bowl Championship.
Bari is the daughter of former national rugby union star Manasa Bari, known for being a winger on the men’s rugby sevens team that claimed victory at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1997. Manasa was also one of the pioneering Fijian players in Super Rugby, playing for the Highlanders and earning the nickname “Black Pearl.”
Unlike her father, who played rugby union, Ilisapeci plays in the front row for the Canterbury Bulldogs. She began her rugby league journey in 2022, encouraged by both her grandmother and father.
In an interview, Bari expressed her desire to give back to her family in Fiji, stating, “It takes a whole village to raise a child, so I’m trying to give back to them, and that’s my main target.” She mentioned that while the pressure is considerable, the support from her family motivates her during games.
Bari attributes her selection to the Bulikula team to divine intervention. “I started off playing AFL (Australian Football League) in Darwin, Australia. My parents wouldn’t let me play rugby until my dad finally agreed,” she explained. After playing for the Darwin Sisters, she was chosen to represent Fiji in 2022 and subsequently scouted by the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney.
Her father was overjoyed upon learning of her selection for the Bulikula team. He expressed that he never imagined one of his children would represent Fiji at such a young age, saying it was all part of God’s plan. Bari encourages young girls to seize opportunities when they arise, as they may only come once in a lifetime.
Additionally, Bari is related to former Fiji Bati forward Eloni Vunakece.