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The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents Ireland in international rugby league. The representative team is composed largely of players of Irish descent who compete in the Super League as well as the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the Irish domestic competition.
The Samoa national rugby union team represents Samoa in men's international rugby union and it is governed by the Samoa Rugby Union. They are also known as Manu Samoa, which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
The Fiji national rugby union team represents Fiji in men's international rugby union competes every four years at the Rugby World Cup, and their best performances were the 1987 and 2007 tournaments when they defeated Argentina and Wales respectively to reach the quarterfinals. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. Fiji also plays in the Pacific Tri-Nations, and has won the most Pacific Tri-Nations Championships of the three participating teams.
The Tonga national rugby union team represents Tonga in men's international rugby union. The team is nicknamed ʻIkale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a traditional piece of performance art – the Sipi Tau. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Samoa. The Ikale Tahi achieved a historic 19–14 victory over France in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, but having lost to New Zealand and Canada, were unable to achieve what would have been their first-ever presence at the quarter-finals.
The Tonga national rugby league team represents Tonga in rugby league football. They are currently the second ranked team in the world. The team was formed to compete in the 1986 Pacific Cup, and have competed at six Rugby League World Cups, starting in 1995 and continuing consecutively until the most recent tournament. Their best result was at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, where they were semi-finalists.
The Cook Islands national rugby league team have represented the Cook Islands in international rugby league football since 1986. Administered by the Cook Islands Rugby League Association (CIRLA), the team has competed at two Rugby League World Cups, in 2000 and 2013, and are coached by Tony Iro.
The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati, has been participating in international rugby league football since 1992. The team is controlled by the governing body for rugby league in Fiji, Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL), which is currently a member of the Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation (APRLC). Fiji have thrice reached the semi-finals of the Rugby League World Cup, in 2008, 2013 and 2017, and are currently ranked 6th in the International Rugby League's World Rankings. They are coached by Fijian Joe Dakuitoga, who was appointed in August 2020, and their captain is Kevin Naiqama.
The Samoa national rugby league team represents Samoa in rugby league football and has participated in international competition since 1986. Known as Western Samoa before 1997, the team is administered by Rugby League Samoa and are nicknamed Toa Samoa.
The South Africa national rugby league team to date have competed at two Rugby League World Cups in 1995 and 2000.
Mosese Nasau Rauluni is a retired Fijian rugby union footballer. He usually plays at scrum half, and played for Saracens in the Guinness Premiership in England. He has played for Fiji, including captaining them. He is the younger brother of Jacob Rauluni and first cousin of Waisale Serevi.
Ipolito Fenukitau is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He has played over 10 times for the Tonga national rugby union team, including representing them at the 1995 Rugby World Cup in South Africa and 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia. His usual position is at flanker.
The Bligh Roosters is a Fijian former rugby union team that had a franchise area covering Tavua, Vatukoula, Ba and Ra. The team played in Fiji's Colonial Cup in 2007 and 2008 before the competition ceased in 2008.
Josaia Rabele "Joe" Dakuitoga, also known as Jo Rabele, is a Fijian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Fijian national team, and a former professional rugby league footballer.
Freddie Robarts is a Fijian former professional rugby league footballer who represented Fiji in the 2000 World Cup.
Samuela Marayawa is a Fijian rugby league footballer who represented Fiji in the 1995 and 2000 World Cups.
Niumaia Korovata, also known by the nickname of "Horse", is a Fijian former dual-code international rugby union and rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played representative rugby union (RU) for Fiji and representative rugby league (RL) for Fiji, as a wing, centre or lock, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Niumaia Korovata now is retired from playing and is living with his wife and 4 children. Anna, Ruth, Grace and only son Niumaia jnr.
Illiesa Toga is a Fijian former professional rugby league footballer who represented Fiji in the 1995 World Cup.
Kaleveti Naisoro is a Fijian dual-code international rugby union and professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played representative rugby union (RU) for Fiji, including at the 1991 Rugby World Cup, and representative rugby league (RL) for Fiji, including at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup and 2000 Rugby League World Cup.
Fili Seru is a Fijian rugby footballer who represented Fiji in the 1991 Rugby Union World Cup and the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
Apisalome Vota is a Fijian rugby union player, currently playing for the Drua. His preferred position is centre.
References
- 1 2 Apisalome Degei rugbyleagueproject.org
- ↑ Top rugby reps get together The Fiji Times, 9 October 2007