The Kaiviti Silktails are now the first official Rugby League Football Club in Fiji.

Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) yesterday handed over the affiliation instrument that recognises the Silktails as a Fijian rugby league club under the league’s new affiliation provisions.

The Kaiviti Silktails is being granted a license to operate as a rugby league club in Fiji and has been officially endorsed by the FNRL Board as the Fiji Bati development team.

FNRL executive chairman Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto said the Silktails are part of the FNRL’s development pathway to help promote rugby league in Fiji with the inclusion of local players.

“We are delighted to announce that through this presentation, we are delighted to announce affiliation instruments to recognise the Kaiviti Silktails as the official rugby league club,” Naupoto said.

“The Silktails comprised local players that we have identified from their talent and for them to be drafted into the team.

“By playing in the Ron Massey Cup, that level will be in line with the development that we will want in rugby league and is a wonderful opportunity for the talented young people here in Fiji to develop their skills.”

Kaiviti Silktails manager Jacquie Shannon said this has been a six- year process and they are delighted to be the first official Rugby League Club to be issued an affiliation instrument in Fiji.

“In granting this license, the Kaiviti Silktails will operate as a rugby league club as you alluded in Fiji and has officially endorsed by FNRL as the Fiji Bati development team,” Shannnon said.

“In September 2019, the FNRL and Kaiviti Silktails signed a Memorandum of Agreement that facilitated the new club’s presence in Fiji recruiting local players from the Vodafone Cup competition to train and prepare for the Ron Massey Cup competition in Australia.”

The Silktails side will play its first match in the Ron Massy Cup against the Windor at Churchill Park in Lautoka on the March 14.

Edited by Osea Bola

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