Rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

, or rakavi saumi as it is also known there, is a popular team sport

Team sport

A team sport includes any sport which involves players working together towards a shared objective. A team sport is an activity in which a group of individuals, on the same team, work together to accomplish an ultimate goal which is usually to win. This can be done in a number of ways such as...

 played in Fiji

Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...

 since 1992 when the country was included in the World Sevens.

History

The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1992 but despite this there has been a long history of Fijian players making their mark in rugby league, most notably back in the 1960s when great players such as Joe Levula and Laitia Ravouvou joined Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets

Rochdale Hornets RLFC is an English professional rugby league club from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. They currently play in Championship One...

 and became household names in the English competition.

Popularity

The Fijian rugby league competition is a healthy and progressing competition. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/200811/s2413092.htm?tab=sport

The competition consists of 12 divided between East and West conferences. Once the Grand Final is played, a Super 6 competition takes place among the best players from the FNRL. In September a State of Origin type competition is played with East against West. .

The administration of rugby league in Fiji has focused more on building the skills base of their players to the levels of the larger rugby league nations rather than those they're used to playing in the Pacific Cup or Pacific Rim Championship.

Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL)

The Fjij National Rugby League Competition

Fjij National Rugby League Competition

The Fiji National Rugby League Competition runs the national domestic rugby league competition in Fiji which consists of 12 teams.-Eastern Conference:*Nabua Broncos*Davuilevu Knights*Dee Cees Nadera Panthers*Namatakula Saints*Makoi Bulldogs...

 comprises the following teams:

Eastern Conference:

• Nabua Broncos
• Tailevu Rabbitohs
• Dee Cees Nadera Panthers
• Mango Bay Cowboys
• Makoi Bulldogs
• Hiway Stabilzers QVS Sharks

Western Conference:

• Nadi Eels
• Saru Dragons
• Vaturu Roosters (in formation)
• Lautoka Crushers (in formation)
• Namoli Knights (in formation)

Notable players

Fiji has produced some of the finest rugby league players in the world. Notable examples include Lote Tuqiri and Petero Civoniceva

Petero Civoniceva

Petero Civoniceva is an Australian professional rugby league footballer currently contracted to the Brisbane Broncos of the National Rugby League...

, both of whom have played for Australia in international test matches, Queensland in the State of Origin

Rugby League State of Origin

State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...

 series and the Brisbane Broncos

Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the city of Brisbane, the capital of the state of Queensland. Founded in 1988, the Broncos play in Australasia's elite competition, the National Rugby League premiership. They have won six premierships and two...

in Australian club grand final victories.

External links

• Fiji history from playtheball.com