At just 19 years old, Ilisapeci Bari is proud to uphold her father’s sports legacy. However, she is making her mark in rugby league rather than rugby union, as a member of the Fiji Bulikula team competing in the Pacific Bowl Championship.
Bari is the daughter of renowned rugby player Manasa Bari, who played as a winger and was part of the national rugby sevens team that won the Rugby World Cup sevens in 1997. Manasa was also one of the first Fijian players to participate in Super Rugby, playing for the Highlanders and earning the nickname “Black Pearl.”
Currently, Bari plays in the front row for the Canterbury Bulldogs. “I began playing rugby league in 2022,” she shared with SUNsports. Her family, particularly her grandmother and father, inspired her to pursue rugby league.
Bari expressed her commitment to giving back to her family in Fiji, emphasizing the importance of support, 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 acknowledged the pressure that comes with her role, but the encouragement from her family on the sidelines fuels her motivation.
Reflecting on her journey, Bari credited divine support for her selection to the Bulikula team. “I started off playing AFL (Australian Football League) 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 chosen to represent Fiji in 2022 and subsequently scouted for the Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney.
Her father was elated upon learning about her selection for the Bulikula team, remarking that he never anticipated one of his children would represent Fiji, especially at such a young age. “He said it was all in God’s plan, and I encourage young girls to seize their opportunities, as they only come once in a lifetime,” Bari concluded. She is also related to former Fiji Bati player Eloni Vunakece.
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