The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) Rise Rookie program is making wave with most of its players now travelling as the Fiji Bulikula Women’s Rugby League team for the Rise Rookie Championship in Gold Coast, Australia.
The Fiji Bulikula team presented their itatau to the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere at the State House before leaving to compete at the championship.
According to National Rugby League (NRL) a total of 12 teams across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea will be part of the competition and the team will be split into three pools.
The inclusion of the two Pacific teams in the tournament for the first time was made possible by the PacificAus Sports Program.
Fiji is in Pool B with Queensland, Victoria, and First Nations Gems and the championship is from Thursday March 21 to Sunday March 24.
According to NRL, the competition has been brought forward from May to March to better allow NRLW clubs to scout for talent to join their squads.
Ratu Wiliame, as stated by a Fiji Government statement offered some fatherly advice to the team after accepting their itatau.
“Play as a team, look after one another, go the extra mile, always give your best at each game or tournament and stamp your mark in the rugby league field as a team to beat,” he said.
“Bulikula is an iTaukei word used to describe a rare and special type of golden cowrie shell.
“The cowrie possesses a porcelain-like shine that resembles a dazzling uniqueness of beauty, thus in my humble opinion an apt and relevant comparison to our women.”
He paid tribute to the management and the coaching team for their vision and for sacrificing their time to prepare the young women for the competition.
“Preparing a team for such competition is never an easy task, I would like to thank you for your vision and passion.
“On behalf of the people of Fiji, I wish you all the best for the upcoming competition.”
Fiji Bulikula coach Vela Tawake Nadakuitavuki highlighted that preparations began in November last year, under the RISE Rookie Academy program.
“The championships will provide a new opportunity for athletes in the Pacific to play and develop professionally and will inspire a generation of girls across our region,” she said.
The 20 member team is the first ever girls rugby league team to be trained locally before departing for the Gold Coast.
The Rise Rookie program offers young players an opportunity to obtain specialised training and education through a holistic rugby league development in Fiji.
