THE Vodafone Fiji Bati will compete in an annual Six Nations tournament set by the Rugby League International Federation to ward off a possible raid from rugby union.

Fiji will compete against Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Japan and the United States of America.

The tournament will be held in the USA in October next year.

The RLIF board meeting in Sydney agreed to stage the tournament to give the Tier Two nations more exposure.

Fiji National Rugby League chairman Peni Musunamasi said they were delighted with the news.

"It's really good news," Musunamasi said from Australia yesterday.

"I think the whole idea is to help increase our competitiveness and we're happy to be involved in such a competition.

"We can only grow from here and learn more as we compete."

The participating nations will now draw up a budget and competition format to be put to the RLIF.

"We have agreed to look for a sponsor and work on details of the tournament," Musunamasi said.

RLIF board re-elected Colin Love as chairman, who has promised to assist Fiji in the future.

Love said there was huge potential for the sport in Fiji, citing Petero Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri as testaments of the abundance of talent.

Love said: "I see a huge future for our game here. I think the performance of Fiji to qualify for the World Cup is an indication that there is so much talent for local players to play abroad," he said.

"We have clubs that have talent scouts over here to make recommendations on players. "That's been happening and will continue to happen and I think the opportunities will be greater in the future."

Love said he is confident this year's world cup tournament can return a profit in the "millions".

"Once the world cup is completed, there will be a pot of revenue generated which will be used to help develop the game in developing nations such as Fiji."

The world cup, to be held in Australia in October and November, is expected to cost upwards of $20million to stage, but Lowe said he was expecting a profit.

Meanwhile, the RLIF has given the green light to have the Junior Fiji Bati side play in Australia during the world cup.

The side is scheduled to play their Australian counterparts in the curtain raiser to the Fiji versus France match on November 1.

Musunamasi said they would also look for other oppositions to give the side more exposure.

Fiji's second pool match against Scotland will be played on November 5.....

 

 

 

sounds good apart from 1 thing....japan..they'll get a battering and should be replaced by wales,scotland or ireland asap... 

spud:

Bati to feature in Six Nations

RODNEY DUITHIE
Saturday, May 10, 2008

THE Vodafone Fiji Bati will compete in an annual Six Nations tournament set by the Rugby League International Federation to ward off a possible raid from rugby union.

Fiji will compete against Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Japan and the United States of America.

The tournament will be held in the USA in October next year.

The RLIF board meeting in Sydney agreed to stage the tournament to give the Tier Two nations more exposure.

Fiji National Rugby League chairman Peni Musunamasi said they were delighted with the news.

"It's really good news," Musunamasi said from Australia yesterday.

"I think the whole idea is to help increase our competitiveness and we're happy to be involved in such a competition.

"We can only grow from here and learn more as we compete."

The participating nations will now draw up a budget and competition format to be put to the RLIF.

"We have agreed to look for a sponsor and work on details of the tournament," Musunamasi said.

RLIF board re-elected Colin Love as chairman, who has promised to assist Fiji in the future.

Love said there was huge potential for the sport in Fiji, citing Petero Civoniceva and Lote Tuqiri as testaments of the abundance of talent.

Love said: "I see a huge future for our game here. I think the performance of Fiji to qualify for the World Cup is an indication that there is so much talent for local players to play abroad," he said.

"We have clubs that have talent scouts over here to make recommendations on players. "That's been happening and will continue to happen and I think the opportunities will be greater in the future."

Love said he is confident this year's world cup tournament can return a profit in the "millions".

"Once the world cup is completed, there will be a pot of revenue generated which will be used to help develop the game in developing nations such as Fiji."

The world cup, to be held in Australia in October and November, is expected to cost upwards of $20million to stage, but Lowe said he was expecting a profit.

Meanwhile, the RLIF has given the green light to have the Junior Fiji Bati side play in Australia during the world cup.

The side is scheduled to play their Australian counterparts in the curtain raiser to the Fiji versus France match on November 1.

Musunamasi said they would also look for other oppositions to give the side more exposure.

Fiji's second pool match against Scotland will be played on November 5.....

 

 

 

sounds good apart from 1 thing....japan..they'll get a battering and should be replaced by wales,scotland or ireland asap... 

All sounds good to me. Disagree with you on Japan not being there spud.

it was'nt long ago jim when japan were complaining about playing malta cos malta hammered them....now, i fully support japans inclusion on the international scene but we have to put them in with someone they have a chance of beating because the hammering's they keep getting is going to have a negative effect on the game in japan..

Now this is a step in the right direction!, great news for International Rugby League. Now all these fledgling nations have a full tournament to be a part of, and something additional for them to play for every year. Great stuff.

spud:

it was'nt long ago jim when japan were complaining about playing malta cos malta hammered them....now, i fully support japans inclusion on the international scene but we have to put them in with someone they have a chance of beating because the hammering's they keep getting is going to have a negative effect on the game in japan..

Yes, true, they probably will get hammered for the first 3 years or so, after that they should be getting more competitive. Besides I'm not sure if the other 5 will field their best teams, I hope they do for the sake of Int.RL. I don't mind them being there, look at Japan in the RUWC, they got hammering like 90 points or something but now apparently RU is gaining popularity in Japan. I still think Japan should be there but if they aren't don't put in Ireland, Scotland or Wales, I think the RLIF would like to keep this a non-euro comp. If Japan were out I would put in South Africa preferably but another team non-europe if South Africa is unavailable. Just a question on Japan, where do they get there players? home grown? or australia based? I know there is a domestic team in japan, the warriors, that's all i know of though.

pretty sure they are all home grown

thats a point, i think south africa are in need of something like this. i also feel abit for the cook islands, although they are small they love their league and one excel in a tournament like this!

ALl we need is encouragement of a full strength tonga soma fiji etc, (i mean wc type team playing in it) to give this increased interest n credibility!

 

exactly..theres loads of nations missing out which is why the RLIF should have been looking at hosting 2 or 3 four team competitons like the federation shield comp a couple of years ago and what the RLEF are doing with the euro bowl & shield..

 i get a feeling the RLIF has money burning a hole in the pockets and seem intent on blowing some cash..
 

well, its better than nowt i suppose! haha. but yeh i think its brilliant, i just hope the comp is a success in the states and at least breaks even!

Yeh I agree, it's a step foward none the less. I hope they get some decent crowds, any idea where it's going to be played?

rumour is it's going to be in jacksonville but nothing official yet..

also no word on the format yet,i doubt it'll be 1 group of 6 more likely 2 groups of 3..if they do that then i hope they base one of the groups up in the "traditional" RL areas of the north east,up around new york..i'd defo be up for the trip over if it's in new york without a doubt 

Sounds like they are getting there act together on the RLIF , will be good promotion with the samoans and tonga doing their harka and sipritou , also if a nation pulls out you can include Jamacia because they already play tests against america. This is the beginning of rugby league internationals for america, a little bit of exposure goes a long way. Hope they televise the games, thats what we need them to do?

Yeh i think 2 groups of 3 would be the way to go. Why have it based in 1 city, 6 games + final, thats 7 games, so why not have 2 games in jacksonville, a pool game and final, 2 games in NY and games in 3 other cities.

 If it were 1 group of 6, that would open up alot more hosting options.

http://www.png-gossip.com/news/g011224.html

 

Rugby League Tournament

PNG is amongst eight countries that will be contesting the Asia-Pacific Cup rugby league tournament in Hawaii next year. The tournament is mooted as a major international rugby league event, second only to the World Cup.

The Asia-Pacific Cup encompasses 15 matches and one exhibition match and will be broadcast to over 500 million people in 149 countries worldwide on a combination of cable, satellite and terrestrial television, print media and on-line broadcast.

 

8 countries? 

spud:

http://www.png-gossip.com/news/g011224.html

 

Rugby League Tournament

PNG is amongst eight countries that will be contesting the Asia-Pacific Cup rugby league tournament in Hawaii next year. The tournament is mooted as a major international rugby league event, second only to the World Cup.

The Asia-Pacific Cup encompasses 15 matches and one exhibition match and will be broadcast to over 500 million people in 149 countries worldwide on a combination of cable, satellite and terrestrial television, print media and on-line broadcast.

 

8 countries? 

I find this hard to believe, 8 teams? 149 countries get coverage. Come on, not even the WC will get that many.