When Kaiviti Silktails rep Peni Tagituimua was growing up, he followed his dad Vodafone Fijian Bati chaplain Pastor Ilaitia Tagituimua.

Pastor Ilaitia was in charge of the Fijian Bati spiritual preparations at the 2008, 2013, and 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

In 2017 , the Kevin Naiqama-captained beat  New Zealand 4-2 in a tryless quarterfinal  but lost to Australia, 6-54, in the semifinal.

This month his son, Fiji Bati rep, Peni, has also joined camp with the Wes Naiqama coached Kaiviti Silktails side.

He said that he learned a lot from his father who was part of the sport. “I followed him from the start so it’s rugby league and Kaiviti Silktails for me just like dad,”he said.

“At this moment the aim is to get us prepared as much as we can for the competition hoping to make history being the first Fiji team to win the Australia competition,” he said.

He turns 22 on January 20 and a few Australian based clubs are interested in him.

“There was been few approaches but yet to put ink to paper. If a club calls a player up from the team, then the Silktails executives will  take it up first and follows the process.”

The Rakiraki, Yale, Kadavu native has been part of Fiji Bati for the World Nines last year.

He also played in the   Ron Massey Cup big 40-16, victory over the Windsor Wolves in Lautoka last year.

The team departs for the Ron Massey competition in Australia on January 25.

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