At just 19 years old, Ilisapeci Bari is proud to carry on her father’s sporting legacy. This time, however, she is making her mark in rugby league as a member of the Fiji Bulikula team competing in the Pacific Bowl Championship.
Bari is the daughter of Manasa Bari, a former national rugby star who played as a winger. Manasa was part of the men’s rugby sevens team that secured victory at the Rugby World Cup sevens in 1997 and is recognized as one of the first Fijian players in Super Rugby, playing for the Highlanders and earning the nickname Black Pearl.
While her father shone in rugby union, Ilisapeci plays in the front-row position for the Canterbury Bulldogs. She began her rugby league journey in 2022, encouraged by her grandmother and father to pursue the sport.
“I aim to give back to my family in Fiji,” she shared. “It takes a whole village to raise a child, and that’s my main goal. The pressure is significant, but having my family’s support on the field motivates me.”
Bari also attributed her selection to the Bulikula team to divine intervention. She initially played Australian Football League (AFL) in Darwin, Australia, and her parents reluctantly allowed her to switch to rugby. “I played for the Darwin sisters, then I was selected for Fiji in 2022 and later scouted by the Canterbury Bulldogs,” she explained.
Her father’s reaction to her Bulikula selection was joyful. “He never expected one of his kids to represent Fiji, especially at such a young age. He believes it was all part of God’s plan, and I encourage young girls to seize their opportunities, as they come only once in a lifetime.”
Bari is also related to former Fiji Bati forward Eloni Vunakece.
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