AFTER a lapse of 41 years, the Vuvale Bowl will be contested once again at the McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, Australia when the FIJI Water Flying Fijians face the Wallabies in their first Test this year.
The winning spoil was viewed by captains Tevita Ikanivere and Harry Wilson at the Newcastle Beach yesterday.
Today’s contest will see Fijian and Australian Prime Ministers Sitiveni Rabuka and Anthony Albanese present the prize to the winning team.
The Prime Minister’s visit to Australia is a boost to the Vuvale Partnership between the two nations, especially in sports diplomacy, where the Vuvale Bowl initiative and Fiji Airways’ sponsorship of major Australian teams such as the ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby Pacific and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL were discussed.
As the clock ticks to kick-off, it will be the first meeting between the two sides since the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, where Fiji beat Australia 22-15.
The victory was Fiji’s disruption of the status quo between them, the last time being August 9, 1952 when Fiji won 17-15 in their tour of Australia.
When the bowl, formerly known as the Tanoa Bowl, was last played for on June 9, 1984, Fiji was beaten 3-16 by Australia at Buckhurst Park in Suva.
With the opportunity presented to Fiji to dominate the Wallabies once again, captain Tevita Ikanivere said the main aim for now was to earn a win.
Fiji may have an advantage over the home side with the absence of key forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini due to copping calf injuries.
Meanwhile, the match kicks off at 3.30pm today.
