The Kaiviti Silktails have unveiled a significant new partnership with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs that will last for the next three years. Founded in 2020, the Silktails initially participated in the Ron Massey Cup within the NSWRL before moving on to the Jersey Flegg Cup, focusing on discovering and nurturing Rugby League talent from Fiji.
In recent seasons, the Bulldogs have deepened their engagement with the sport in Fiji, particularly following the signing of Fiji Bati International Viliame Kikau. The establishment of ‘The Kikau Academy’ has led the club’s Ron Massey Cup and Jersey Flegg teams to visit Fiji three times in the past year.
This new alliance comes as the Bulldogs bolster their roster with Fijian players ahead of the 2025 Pacific Championships, including Bati team members Kikau, Kitione Kautoga, Jethro Rinakama, and Penioni Tagituimua, along with Bulikula representatives Ilisapeci Bari, Abigayle Sekitoga, Latisha Smythe, and Nanise Vakacavu. The partnership follows the Bulldogs’ announcement of Fijian international Marcelo Montoya’s return in 2025.
Phil Gould AM, the General Manager of Football, expressed his excitement regarding the collaboration, emphasizing its significance for both clubs in promoting fast-tracked development of Fijian talent towards the NRL. He stated, “This is a groundbreaking partnership that will be paramount in the development of Rugby League throughout Fiji.”
Civoniceva, the Chairman of the Kaiviti Silktails, shared his enthusiasm for the Bulldogs Pathways Program and the benefits of this new partnership. “Our club is so excited to be partnering with the Bulldogs and there were just so many reasons why this deal made sense for us,” he remarked. Civoniceva added that the Bulldogs’ impressive performance in the NRL this year and their commitment to establishing robust pathways for players were essential for aligning with a strong organization.
Notably, a significant Fijian community exists in the Canterbury-Bankstown District of Sydney, and the Bulldogs’ active involvement in Fiji in recent years was a pivotal factor in the collaboration, as highlighted by Civoniceva after a meeting with Gould and Adam Hartigan.
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