The upcoming July test match between the Fiji Water Flying Fijians and the Wallabies will see the two teams compete for the Vuvale Bowl, which was previously named the “Kava Bowl”.
The Flying Fijians and the Wallabies used to compete for the bowl, which was first presented to Australia following their successful tour to Fiji in 1984.
Rugby Australia later gifted the bowl to former Flying Fijians and Wallabies rep Ilivasi Tabua who then returned the bowl to the Fijian Rugby Union, who agreed for it to become the prize between the two nations once again under the new name 'Vuvale'.
The match will be attended by Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, who both will be presenting the bowl to the winner of the contest.
Rugby AU CEO Phil Waugh says they are delighted to welcome Prime Minister Albanese and Prime Minister Rabuka to Newcastle to watch the two national teams battle for the Vuvale Bowl.
Waugh says the meeting of the Prime Ministers at the Wallabies-Fiji Test to celebrate the game is a powerful statement of the diplomatic, economic and cultural bonds Australia and Fiji share through rugby.
He says Rugby Australia and the Australian Government‘s PacificAus Sports program continue to work closely with their Fijian counterpart to grow the Fijian Drua’s men’s and women’s programs and the community game.
He adds that they look forward to deepening cooperation and engagement between the two countries and evolving our partnership through rugby.
The Vuvale Bowl is also contested by the Wallaroos and Fijiana XVs, in which Australia currently hold the women's Vuvale Bowl following their 43-7 win in Suva in May this year.
Australian PM Anthony Albanese says he is so honoured to welcome Rabuka to Australia for this match.
Albanese says he was with the Rabuka only a few weeks ago, and reiterated the importance of their strong economic, security and people-to-people relationships with Fiji.
He says, however, come game day, for 80-odd minutes, that friendship will become a very competitive one.
Albanese says this will be a fantastic match and he knows it will be well supported by Novocastrians and those travelling to see these two great rugby nations in action.
He says he looks forward to attending the match next week.
The Flying Fijians will take on the Wallabies at 3.30pm next Sunday at Newcastle International Sports Centre.
They will then play Scotland on the 12th of July at 3pm at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
