LOCAL rugby league players now have a lot to play for next year.
This indicates a break from the norm in the sport in Fiji where players fight for selection for only two teams — the Vodafone Fiji Bati and the Residents.
Now there are more chances to play at national and international level, thanks to Rugby League International Federation (RLIF).
Immediately after the Rugby League World Cup in Australia next month, Fiji has been invited to play in two competitions — the winner of the Vodafone Inter-Zone against Papua New Guinea champion club, the PNG Hunters and the 2018 Commonwealth Championships at Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Both will take place next February.
“We have been invited and we will have the men’s and women’s teams competing in Queensland,” Fiji National Rugby League chief executive officer Timoci Naleba said.
“Our under-23 team will represent the men’s team in Queensland because in another four years, the players would be mature enough to play in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. It will be the first time for our women’s team to travel and this will expose our players at international level.”
The Roar reported that RLIF has announced the 14 teams which will compete in Queensland after 17 Commonwealth countries expressed interest to play in the competition.
Following their success in the 2014 Commonwealth Championships in Glasgow, Papua New Guinea will be defending the men’s title alongside hosts Australia, England, Scotland, Fiji, Samoa, Wales and Tonga.
In the women’s competition, hosts Australia will be joined by Canada, Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
RLIF chairman Nigel Wood said: “We look forward to two exciting tournaments in 2018 in Queensland. Given the pace of the development of women’s rugby league, we are delighted to announce the expansion of the women’s event to six nations and RLIF wishes to thank Moreton Bay and Queensland Rugby League for their support in staging these championships.”
Selection into the two competition would be done after the 2017 RLWC.
