Fiji national rugby league team

The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati (pronounced ), has been participating in international rugby league football since 1992. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Fiji, Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). Fiji have thrice reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, in 2008, 2013 and 2017, and are currently ranked 6th in the International Rugby League's World Rankings. They are coached by Fijian Wise Kativerata, and their captain is Tui Kamikamica. The team will typically perform the hymn "Noqu Masu" before each match, singing in unison.

History 1990s 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 and became household names in the English competition.

Interest and participation in rugby league snowballed throughout Fiji, and as well as continued success in the Rugby League World Sevens, the Batis began playing full 13-aside games against international teams. By 1994, Fiji had hammered the Great Britain amateurs 40–8 and, captained by mighty front-rower James Pickering, beat 20–12.

They had also produced their first rugby league superstar after winger Noa Nadruku joined Canberra Raiders and in 1993 became the top try-scorer in the Australian competition.

Fiji took part in their first World Cup in 1995 where, just as the 2000 World Cup, they had the misfortune to be placed in the same group as both England and Australia. But the Batis made a massive impression in their opening World Cup game in which they ran riot against South Africa, 52–6, and had the crowd on their feet at Keighley.

During the Super League war, Fiji, like most countries other countries, aligned itself with Super League. In search of international competition, the Australian Rugby League played a match against a "National Rugby League of Fiji" team in 1996. This match has been granted Test status by the ARL, but not by the Rugby League International Federation.

2000s Coached by Don Furner, Sr. and captained by Lote Tuqiri, Fiji competed in the 2000 World Cup but did not progress past the tournament's group stage.

The Fiji Bati qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup held in Australia after finishing second in Pacific qualifying behind . Fiji's qualification campaign started with a thrilling 30–28 loss to Samoa before reversing the scoreline a few days later with a 30–28 win over the Tongans. Fiji won their final qualifying game against Cook Islands 40–4. Having qualified the Vodafone Fiji Bati team started their Rugby League World Cup 2008 campaign with 42–6 win over France followed by a 2-point defeat to Scotland, however they topped their group with a superior points difference. Beating Ireland in their quarter final they came within one match of the World Cup final, but were defeated by Australia, ending the tournament in 4th place.

2010s

Fiji automatically qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup after participating in the 2008 tournament. They took on Australia, England and Ireland in the pool stage. In their first match they took on 'the Wolfhounds'. They played at the famous Spotland Stadium, in Rochdale, where Fiji have an historic affiliation with. The Fijians convincingly won by a score of 32–14. As expected Fiji lost to both Australia and England, although they surprised many, as they only conceded 34 points against the teams in each game and they led 2–0 against Australia, and were within a few minutes of taking a half-time lead against England. Fiji would take on 'fierce Pacific rivals' Samoa in the quarter-final. They won the, passionate pacific, fixture and they would celebrate with a 22–4 victory. They celebrated even more, as it meant Fiji reached their second consecutive World Cup semi-final. They took on Australia again, but this game was nothing like the group stage fixture. Fiji's errors conceded them 62 points against a classy Australian side. This defeat ended and equalled their best World Cup campaign in their history.

In May 2014, Fiji took on Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League Test at Penrith Stadium. The International was created as a qualifier for the final 2014 Four Nations spot. It was also a chance for the Four Nations team (winner of this international) to warm-up before the event kicked off later in the year. Fiji failed to qualify with their fierce pacific rivals getting the better of them by 32–16.

In May 2015, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2015 Melanesian Cup test at Cbus Super Stadium. Fiji won the match and the inaugural Melanesian Cup title. Fiji never looked like losing the match after an easy first half performance, leading 18–0 at the break. They went on to win the test match by 22–10.

In May 2016, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup test at Pirtek Stadium. Fiji had a similar situation in this year's Melanesian Cup with a half-time score of 16–8 but this time around they conceded too many second half points allowing the Kumuls to make a shock comeback and win the match 24–22.

In the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in New Zealand & Australia, Fiji topped Group D before recording their biggest upset victory, defeating New Zealand 4–2 in the quarter-finals. They then lost to Australia 54–6 in the semi-finals.

2020s Fiji automatically qualified for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup having reached the semi-finals of the previous Rugby League World Cup. The 2021 tournament will take place in England.

Kit

Kit suppliers and sponsors Period Kit provider Sponsor on front of shirt Sponsor on top of back of shirt Sponsor on sleeves2024–present Dynasty SportSky Sport

Players

Current squad A squad of 23 players selected for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup was announced on 5 October 2026 on social media.

Statistics in the table are drawn from the website, Rugby League Project.

J# Player Age Position(s) Fiji Bati Club Club Matches 31 2019 10 14 0 0 56 Bradford Bulls 207 41 24 2024 3 0 0 0 0 Dolphins (NRL) 56 24 0 0 0 0 0 Northern Pride RLFC 0 10 24 2022 5 1 0 0 4 Parramatta Eels 37 41 20 0 0 0 0 0 South Sydney Rabbitohs 0 1 33 2013 17 1 21 0 46 Wests Tigers 254 5 0 0 0 0 0 Western Suburbs Magpies 4 17 27 0 0 0 0 0 Newtown Jets 0 103 0 0 0 0 0 Melbourne Storm 0 24 2024 3 0 0 0 0 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 0 14 31 2017 17 4 16 0 48 Huddersfield Giants 132 73 23 2023 7 2 0 0 8 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 12 30 26 2022 3 3 0 0 12 Mackay Cutters 0 32 25 2025 1 0 0 0 0 Wynnum Manly Seagulls 0 46 23 0 0 0 0 0 Mackay Cutters 0 40 0 0 0 0 0 New Zealand Warriors 0 3 30 2015 7 0 0 0 0 Newcastle Knights 192 19 21 2025 2 2 0 0 8 Wests Tigers 4 19 24 2022 10 5 0 0 20 Wests Tigers 97 33 27 2022 10 5 0 0 20 North Queensland Cowboys 53 35 27 2019 13 1 50 1 105 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 57 76 21 2024 2 0 0 0 0 Wests Tigers 2 21 Notes: Age is as at the last update, 6 October 2026. Clubs outside the NRL and Super League are shaded in the above table.

Records

Bold- denotes that the player is still active.

Most capped players #NameCareerCaps1Kevin Naiqama2009-2022252Akuila Uate2006-2018183Apisai Koroisau2013-202217Tui Kamikamica2016-202217Eloni Vunakece2007-2018176Viliame Kikau2015-202216Junior Roqica2011-2019168Ashton Sims2008-2017159Wes Naiqama2006-201414James Storer2008-201714Ben Nakubuwai2016-202214

Top try scorers #NameCareerTries1Akuila Uate2006-2018142Suliasi Vunivalu2017-2019123Viliame Kikau2015-2022114Kevin Naiqama2009-2022105Jarryd Hayne2008, 2017–20188

Top points scorers #NameCareerPointsTriesGoalsField Goals1Wes Naiqama2006-201413275202Brandon Wakeham2019-20226613103Akuila Uate2006-20185614004Suliasi Vunivalu2017-20195012105Apisai Koroisau2013-2022461210

Competitive record

The table below shows Fiji's all-time international rugby league record as of 21 October 2024. They have been participating in International fixtures since 1992.

CountryMatchesWonDrawnLostWin %ForAgaDiff 1 1 0 0 % 16 14 +2 7 0 0 7 % 24 378 –354 Australian Aboriginies 1 1 0 0 % 21 20 +1 1 1 0 0 % 26 12 +14 15 9 1 5 % 449 251 +198 3 0 0 3 % 22 146 –124 England Knights 1 1 0 0 % 44 8 +36 2 2 0 0 % 62 18 +44 1 0 0 1 % 4 72 –68 2 2 0 0 % 62 28 +34 2 2 0 0 % 98 14 +84 4 2 0 2 % 118 118 0 1 0 0 1 % 12 32 –20 2 1 0 1 50% 22 26 -4 New Zealand Residents 1 1 0 0 % 34 16 +18 2 1 0 1 % 34 38 –4 16 5 0 11 % 261 375 –114 Rotuma 1 1 0 0 % 32 12 +20 1 1 0 0 % 38 12 +26 12 8 0 4 % 274 184 +90 2 1 0 1 % 46 32 +14 1 1 0 0 % 52 6 +46 13 5 1 7 % 221 296 –75 1 1 0 0 % 58 12 +46 1 1 0 0 % 72 6 +66 Total 94 48 2 44 % 2,102 2,126 –24

Rugby League World Cup

World Cup recordYearRoundPositionGPWLD 1995Group stage6/103120 2000Group stage12/163120 2008Semi-finals4/104220 2013Semi-finals4/145230 2017Semi-finals4/145410 2021Quarter-Finals6/164220 2026qualifiedTotal0 Titles4/132412120

Four Nations Four Nations recordYearRoundPositionGPWLD 2009 Not Invited 2010 Failed to Qualify 2011 Not Invited 2014 Failed to Qualify 2016 Not InvitedTotal0 Titles0/50030

Pacific Cup Pacific Cup recordYearRoundPositionGPWLD 1992Group stage9/104130 1994Second Place2/106420 1997Group stage5/63021 2004Group stage4/62110 2006Second Place2/63210 2009Semi-finals3/52110Total0 Titles6/12209101

Margins and streaks Biggest winning margins Margin Score Opponent Venue Date 66 726 Wales 1300SMILES Stadium 5 Nov 2017 56 604 Italy Kingston Park 22 Oct 2022 52 586 Cook Islands Carlaw 26 Oct 1992 50 566 Cook Islands HFC Bank Stadium 26 Oct 2024 46 5812 United States 1300SMILES Stadium 28 Oct 2017 44 5814 Lebanon Leichhardt Oval 22 June 2019 36 426 France WIN Stadium 1 Nov 2008

Biggest losing margins Margin Score Opponent Venue Date 66 066 Australia Alfred McAlpine Stadium 14 Oct 1995 64 064 Australia Wembley Stadium 23 Nov 2013 52 052 Australia Aussie Stadium 16 Nov 2008 50 050 England AJ Bell 7 Oct 2022 48 654 Australia Suncorp Stadium 23 Nov 2017

IRL Rankings

Fiji national rugby league team

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