The Kaiviti Silktails have unveiled a significant new three-year agreement with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Founded in 2020, the Silktails began their journey in the Ron Massey Cup within the NSWRL and have since moved up to the Jersey Flegg Cup, focusing on identifying and nurturing Rugby League talent from Fiji.
In recent years, the Bulldogs have strengthened their ties to Fiji, particularly following the acquisition of Fiji Bati International player Viliame Kikau. The launch of “The Kikau Academy” has allowed the Bulldogs’ Ron Massey Cup and Jersey Flegg teams to visit Fiji three times over the past year.
This new collaboration aligns with the Bulldogs’ participation in the upcoming 2025 Pacific Championships, where they will field a strong group of Fijian players, including Kikau, Kitione Kautoga, Jethro Rinakama, and Penioni Tagituimua, as well as the Bulikula team members Ilisapeci Bari, Abigayle Sekitoga, Latisha Smythe, and Nanise Vakacavu. Additionally, the Bulldogs announced the return of Fijian international Marcelo Montoya for the 2025 season.
Phil Gould AM, General Manager of Football, expressed his excitement about the partnership, highlighting its potential to accelerate the development of Fijian talent in the NRL. “This is a groundbreaking partnership that will be pivotal in advancing Rugby League in Fiji,” he said.
The Bulldogs already have a notable representation of Fijian players, led by Kikau in the NRL and Smythe in the NRLW, and they aim to enhance this pathway in the coming years.
Kaiviti Silktails Chairman Peter Civoniceva praised the Bulldogs’ Pathways Program and eagerly anticipated the new affiliation. “We are thrilled to partner with the Bulldogs; this deal aligns perfectly with our goals,” Civoniceva stated. He noted the Bulldogs’ impressive performance in the NRL this season, attributing their success to the efforts of Gould and Adam Hartigan in developing their Pathways Program.
Civoniceva also emphasized the significance of their largest Fijian expatriate community residing in the Canterbury-Bankstown area and the Bulldogs’ active engagement in Fiji over the past two years, which helped solidify the partnership.