THE Fiji men’s Invitational netball side impressed at the 2025 Australian Men’s and Mixed Netball National Championships, winning seven out of ten matches during the round robin stage.
Despite their strong performance, the team was not eligible to progress to the semifinals because they were competing as an invitational side.
The championships were held over one week at the State Netball Centre in Parkville in Melbourne and featured some of the top male and mixed netball talent in Australia.
Fiji finished third in the Reserve and under-23 category, behind Victoria U23 who came first and Queensland U23 in second place.
Speaking to Netball Fiji, head coach Jioweli Vakamoce said the tournament was an important part of their preparation for the Fiji Men’s International competition in August.
“This tournament is a critical part of our roadmap to the Fiji Men’s International in August, and it will help us assess where we are and what we need to sharpen before then,” Vakamoce said.
He said the level of play in Melbourne tested their players and gave them a clear idea of what is needed to improve.
“We are glad that we were able to experience the intensity and Australian style of netball throughout the one week of intense competition,” he said.
Vakamoce also highlighted the value of Fiji’s participation at this level.
“Our participation underscores the growing strength and depth of men’s netball in the Pacific.”
Fiji’s success at the championships shows the growing potential and competitiveness of men’s netball in the region.
The side will now return to training with focus on building towards their international campaign later this year.
