Joe Levula and Orisi Dawai were the first Fijians to play rugby league after they were recruited to play professionally for the Rochdale Hornets in 1961. Voate Driu and Laitia Ravouvou joined the club the next year, with numerous others following throughout the 1960s and 1970s. These players largely remained in Rochdale after their careers.[2][3][4]
In 1992, a number of high-profile Fijian rugby union representatives converted to rugby league and entered the Rugby League World Sevens, for which they received lifetime bans from the Fiji Rugby Union.[5] Under the guidance of Bob Abbott (from the Australian Rugby League), a six-team rugby league competition was established in Fiji later that same year.[6] The competition used match payments to attract players from rugby union, with FJ$40 (AU$38) offered per win and FJ$10 per loss.[7][8] The sport was supported by Sitiveni Rabuka, who served as President of the Fiji Rugby League (FRL) during that period.[9]
The FRL aligned itself with the News Corp-backed Super League during the Super League war. Suva hosted the inaugural Super League World Nines in February 1996, which reportedly brought $1.3 million into the local economy. Under the Super League, the FRL grew from eight clubs with one team each to twelve clubs with two teams each. Abbott and the Australian Rugby League had meanwhile established a small competition in western Fiji.[10]
2001 was the last year in which payments were offered to rugby league players in Fiji.[11]
The first women's club rugby league match in the country was played on 26 March 2016, between Bemana and the Coastal Roos.[12][13][14]
The Fiji National Rugby League runs the national domestic rugby league competition in Fiji. Known as the Vodafone Cup, the competition features 32 teams across two conferences, each with two zones. The competition was formed in 1998, and has been Fiji's top level rugby league competition ever since.
Teams
Eastern Conference
Western Conference
Nasinu Zone
Suva Zone
Koicalevu Zone
Navitilevu Zone
Cunningham Titans
Fiji Navy Albatross
Kainiyahawa Tigers
BA Eagles
Davuilevu Knights
Lami Steelers
Laselese Cowboys
Burenitu Cowboys
Kinoya Sea Eagles
Lovoni Titans
Nadi Eels
Police Sharks White
Kolimakawa Bulldogs
Nabua Broncos
Navatulevu Warriors
Namuaniwaqa Sea Eagles
Makoi Bulldogs
Police Sharks
Ravoravo Rabbitohs
Namoli West Tigers
Mataivalu
Serua Dragons
Sabeto Roosters
Saru Dragons
Nadera Panthers
Suva City Storm
West Coast Storms
Yasawa Saints
Veiyasana Knights
Topline Warriors
USP Raiders
Vusu Raiders
The FNRL Vodafone Cup is the top club competition for men's rugby league in Fiji.
It was previously divided into two conferences (East and West). The number of conferences has increased as the competition has grown.
24 teams took part in the 2020 Vodafone Cup.[16] The 2022 season featured 30 teams.[17]
An * indicates that the match was decided in extra time.
Inter-Zone Championship
The Inter-Zone Championship was created in 2016. The teams were made up of the strongest players from the Vodafone Cup. The men's and U20's competition was first held in 2016, while the women's competition was introduced in 2017.[35]
Each Zone plays each other over 5 weeks before semi finals and a final is played.
The Melanesian Club Championship has been contested by the Fijian champions (at either club or zone level) and the winner of Papua New Guinea's Digicel Cup since 2015.
This is a list of players from the domestic FNRL competition in Fiji who have played in a top-tier professional rugby league competition i.e. the NRL or the Super League.