A team representing Fiji will participate in New South Wales Rugby League's (NSWRL) Ron Massey Cup in 2020.
The new team, which will be named the Kaiviti Silktails, was announced on Friday as part of a joint initiative between rugby league's governing bodies in New South Wales and Fiji to create opportunities for young Fijian players to further their careers.
The new club will also receive Australian government funding over the next four years.
New South Wales Rugby League chairman George Peponis said the announcement represents a major step forward for the sport in Fiji.
“Fiji has provided our game with plenty of exciting players over the decades and it’s a wonderful initiative to now have a direct pathway to help them pursue a Rugby League career," Peponis told NSWRL.com.
It is expected that the team will shift to the Canterbury Cup NSW competition in the future.
Great idea after how well the PNG hunters have gone. PNG Hunters May not have had an amazing year but they definately got more PNG people getting payed to play league and more youngsters interested in the game.
Awesome that Fiji will get that opportunity too now. Plus it could lure back a couple good players. Maybe Kevin Naiquama comes back to captain the side he’s still a good player and a great leader.
Maybe Montoya joins for some game time and Taane Milne
This is great for the expansion of Rugby League by the Australian League region to include a Fiji team.
With the Super League doing their part for League growing the game with a French team and now team from Canada League is progressing along reasonably well.