The Australian Government is a strong, committed and ongoing supporter of rugby league in Fiji.

This was the message from Aus­tralian High Commissioner, John Feakes. He was responding yes­terday to questions on the recent fallout between the Fiji National Rugby League and Kaiviti Silktails.

“Sport is a vital part of the Fiji- Australia Vuvale Partnership,” Feakes said.

“Through the PacificAusSports and TeamUp programmes, we con­tinue to support rugby league in Fiji at both elite and community levels. Our current agreement un­der PacificAusSports with the NSW Rugby League ensures the Kaiviti Silktails’ participation in the NSW Ron Massey Cup into the 2023 sea­son.”

“Through TeamUp, the Aus­tralian Government also supports the National Rugby League (NRL) to deliver important community programmes in partnership with the Fiji National Rugby League, in­cluding League for Life and Voices Against Violence.”

“Relations between the Fiji Na­tional Rugby League and the Kaiv­iti Silktails are a matter for those parties,” he said.

However, it’s understood that a meeting to resolve the fallout is set around June 22.

Sources old SUNsports yesterday the meeting would be held three days before the June 25 Pacific Test clash between the Fijian Bati and Papua New Guinea Kumuls in Campbelltown, Sydney.

The meeting is understood to be attended by Australia’s Depart­ment of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), National Rugby League (NRL), New South Wales Rugby League (NSWRL), Kaiviti Silktails and Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL).

FNRL chairman Viliame Naupoto last week indicated that Silktails was no longer affiliated with FNRL because they did not honour the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) they had signed.

However, Silktails chairman Pe­tero Civoniceva said they had at­tempted mediation through the Fiji National Sports Commission Executive Chairman, Peter Mazey, and Cathy Wong, but there was no response from FNRL.

Questions emailed to Mazey on the issue were not answered.

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj