FIJI’S National Rugby League has announced a Cup Nines event for club teams from Australia and New Zealand as well as from domestic competitions in November.
The Fiji Cup Nines is set down for Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka from November 10 to 13 with prize money totalling FJ$50,000.
Fiji National Rugby League chief executive Don Natabe indicted the governing body was getting in first as the International Rugby League looks to establish a Nines circuit and his organisation had attracted government funding with this in mind.
“We are confident about the prospects of international Nines football becoming an annual series as part of IRL’s multiyear calendar and the Fijian Cup is strategically important in presenting Nines as a niche commercial product,” Natabe said.
“And for that we thank … the great team at TourismHQ for their partnership to host the inaugural Fijian Cup Nines.”
International visitors would be accommodated at the Shangri La Yanuca Island Resort on the Coral Coast, the FNRL said.
“Open to international entry, the Fijian Cup Nines is an exciting new rugby league tournament which we intend to grow into a renowned annual fixture on the regional calendar and have Fiji on show for visitors and viewers,” said Fiji tourism’s Richard Henry.
“We offer this world-class tournament as an all-inclusive holiday with flights, accommodation, entry and transfers, with the added encouragement for international players to bring their partners and children to enjoy their time in paradise.”
Sigatoka is situated on the island of Viti Levu at the mouth of the Sigatoka River, 61 kilometres from Nadi.
The event has its own website at fijiancup.com/nines/
