Former Fijian Warriors rep Ratu Meli Nabura aims to be Fijian Bati and represent the country at the Rugby League World Cup in England later this year,

That why the Naitasiri native switched code and teamed up with Kaiviti Silktails preparing for the 2021 Ron Massey Cup in Australia.

The 21-year old native is among the Wes Naiqama-coached Kaiviti Silktails squad camping in Lautoka.

Nabura was part of the Senirusi Seruvakula-coached Fiji Warriors side in 2019 in the Pacific Rugby Challenge.

“I switched codes as I wanted to try out rugby league as I’m pretty young and eager to learn,” he said.

“I’ve played age group rugby and the Swire Shipping Fiji Warriors. But I want to try out and take part in the RLWC later this month.

“I want to represent my country as a Fijian Bati.”

He is the younger brother of Tevita Nabura who played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition.

“I do respect being motivated by my brother as well,” he said.

“Being part of the Silktails was not as easy as I had to work hard for this. I’m reaping the benefits of toiling hard and I aim to do more to reach the top.”

He played at wing for the Coastal Roos in the 2020 Vodafone Cup and also part of the victorious Western Maroons side in the State of Origin clash.

Naiqama said Nabura was part of the elite players that have excelled locally and can achieve more in Australia.

Silktails impress Naiqama

Naiqama is happy as they prepare for the 2021 season.

Players arrived at the Lautoka camp on Monday for pre-season training ahead of the Ron Massey Cup competition.

Police Sharks players Mosese Rova and Apimeleki Lutuimawi were the last two to join camp.

Naiqama said they would need to up the ante before they move to Australia later this month.

The former Fiji Bati captain said the next eight weeks for the Silktails will be crucial for their outing in Sydney.

“Good energy among the boys and there is a lot of excitement, it will be really similar to what we did last year,”Naiqama said,

“These boys come into the pre-season with the drills that we do and what is expected of them.

“It won’t be new to them because we have laid the foundation during the season.”

The Silktails’ debut in New South Wales’ Ron Massey Cup competition in 2020 was successful but was short-lived due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They thrashed the Windsor Wolves 40-16 in their only game of the season at Churchill Park, Lautoka.

The Silktails will depart for Sydney on January 25.

“We will be doing our quarantine at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast Sporting Complex. It is a blessing for us, rather than stuck in a hotel room for two weeks. We won’t lose any time as we will train every day and do weights,” he said.

Other teams in the competition include Aquith Magpies, Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, Cabramatta Two Blues, Glebe-Burwood Wolves, Hills District Bulls, Mounties RLFC, St Mary Saints, Windsor Wolves, and multiple time champion Wentworthville Magpies.

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