Southland's singing Fijian community unites over rugby league
Southland's singing Fijian community unites over rugby league
“Some of the boys just came from Fiji last week and it’s their first time playing league so it’s really good to see them out there.”
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There’s something special happening at Southland rugby league headquarters at the moment.
The sport is playing a lead role in uniting the province’s Pacific Island community, and it is Southland’s Fijian community, in particular, that is in the thick of it.
A team - made up almost entirely of players of Fijian heritage - is now playing in Southland District Rugby League’s senior competition.
Southland Fiji Bati has brought plenty of physicality to the competition, a vocal and passionate support base, and some impressive singing abilities.
Some in the team have lived in Southland for a while, others arrived from Fiji just last week. About 20 players in the squad are here working for the Alliance Group.
Many have limited to no rugby league experience given they come from a rugby union background.
They’ll scatter themselves through various rugby union clubs in Southland when the season rolls around. But for now, the Fijians are thriving while uniting in the 13-man code competition.
Former Fiji rugby union international Talemaitoga Tuapati both plays in the team and coaches it.
Tuapati says Southland District Rugby League was in need of another club team so they thought, “why not?” enter a Fijian team.
Some players travel from as far as Queenstown, Cromwell, and Te Anau to play for the team.
Former Southland Rams player Sai Koroiadi manages the team.
“It’s good to see the community lined up on the sideline, it’s really good for our community,” Koroiadi says.
“Some of the boys just came from Fiji last week and it’s their first time playing league so it’s really good to see them out there.”
Koroiadi says having the league team helps those new to the province connect with their fellow countrymen already in Southland.
“One just arrived on Thursday and said, ‘it’s just like Fiji weather. I said, ‘wait for winter’,” Koroiadi joked.
Southland Fiji Bati has a one-win-one loss record through its first two games beating Cooks before losing 36-16 to the Cowboys on Saturday.
Although they do have a title already locked away for 2023.
SDRL held a Murihiku All Nations 9-a-side one-day tournament on Waitangi Day made up of teams representing their home various home nations.
Southland Fiji Bati beat Tonga in the final.
“We got to play against our neighbour Tonga, which was a good game….It was just like we were playing [rugby] sevens but it was nines.”
Koroiadi says it was an emotional day seeing the community all come together.
While it is rugby league at the moment where the Fijian community has united to form a sports team, Koroiadi says the idea is they will extend it to other sports, such as touch and basketball, in the future.