Fiji Bati
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| Nickname | Fiji Bati | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governing body | Fiji National Rugby League | ||||||
| Region | Asia-Pacific | ||||||
| Head coach | Mick Potter | ||||||
| Captain | Kevin Naiqama | ||||||
| Most caps | Wes Naiqama (14) | ||||||
| Top try-scorer | Akuila Uate (13) | ||||||
| Top point-scorer | Wes Naiqama (132) | ||||||
| Home stadium | National Stadium | ||||||
| RLIF ranking | 7th | ||||||
| First international | |||||||
 Western Samoa 32–18 Fiji  (Apia, Samoa; 1992) |
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| Biggest win | |||||||
 Cook Islands 6–54 Fiji (Suva, Fiji; 1992) |
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| Biggest defeat | |||||||
 Australia 84–14 Fiji (Marathon Stadium, Newcastle; 12 July 1994) |
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| World Cup | |||||||
| Appearances | 4 (first time in 1995) | ||||||
| Best result | Semi Final 2008, 2013 | ||||||
The Fiji national rugby league team, nicknamed the Bati (pronounced [mˈbatʃi]), 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 come within one victory of the Rugby League World Cup final twice (in 2008 and 2013) and are currently ranked 7th in the Rugby League International Federation's World Rankings.
The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1992 but despite this there has been a long history of Fijian players making their mark in rugby league, most notably back in the 1960s when great players such as Joe Levula and Laitia Ravouvou joined Rochdale Hornets and became household names in the English competition.
Interest and participation in rugby league snowballed throughout Fiji, and as well as continued success in the World Sevens, the Batis began playing full 13-aside games against international teams. By 1994, Fiji had hammered the Great Britain Amateur tourists (40-8) and, captained by mighty front-rower James Pickering, beat France (20-12).
They had also produced their first rugby league superstar after winger Noa Nadruku joined Canberra Raiders and in 1993 became the top try-scorer in the Australian competition.
Fiji took part in their first World Cup in 1995 where, just as the 2000 World Cup, they had the misfortune to be placed in the same group as both England and Australia. But the Batis made a massive impression in their opening World Cup game in which they ran riot against South Africa, 52-6, and had the crowd on their feet at Keighley.
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