The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) women’s competition will commence this Saturday and FNRL chairperson Aporosa Lutunauga said the support shown towards the growth of the sport for women is promising.
“The tournament will begin proper on June 3 and there has been a lot of support shown to the competition by FNRL and the Australian Government, to sponsor the women’s Super-8 competition this year,” said Lutunauga.
“We hope to grow the sport and make a pathway for talented young girls to join the Fijian Bulikula team, the national rugby league team.
“This will enable us to contest at the international level.”
Lutunauga also praised the commitment shown by former Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua wing Vitalina Naikore who has joined the North-Queensland Cowboys side in the National Rugby League Womens’ (NRLW) competition in Australia.
“She is the pioneer and the trailblazer as far as women in rugby league is concerned,” he said.
“She is the first Fijian to sign with an NRLW side and it’s a historical signing.
“It is a breakthrough for women in Fiji, and if she can do it, other women and young girls in Fiji can do it as well and that is what we want to see.
“To push out the message to women and young girls in secondary school, that there is a pathway for women in rugby league.”
