Petero Civoniceva's dream of a Fiji team playing in the NSW Cup from next year is set to become reality after the bid was officially endorsed by the Fiji National Rugby League.
Civoniceva, who captained the Fiji Bati at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, believes his three‑year campaign for a Fiji team in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW will finally come to fruition in 2019 after the FNRL wrote to the NSWRL to advise they had formally endorsed the bid at a recent board meeting.
Civoniceva says that the endorsement of the FNRL was the missing piece in the jigsaw so this will allow them to start to set up for 2019.
The backing of the FNRL was the final hurdle for Civoniceva to secure support and funding from the government and sponsors in Fiji for the team.
The former Brisbane Broncos prop has been in discussions with sponsors to help provide the 1.5 million Australian dollars needed to cover operating costs, including flights and accommodation for visiting NSW Cup clubs in Fiji.
A team in the NSW Cup would be a massive boost to the game in Fiji, which has qualified for the semi‑finals of the past three World Cups in 2008, 2013 and 2017.
With more than 25 Fijian players in the NRL last season there is no shortage of talent in Fiji and the Bati scored the country's greatest rugby league victory when they defeated New Zealand 4‑2 in November's World Cup quarter final at Wellington.
Source: NRL
