IRL Board to decide on Fiji Bati’s fate

Fiji Bati’s participation at this year’s Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) is now at the mercy of the International Rugby League (IRL).

This is due to Fiji National Rugby League’s (FNRL) failure to submit its Annual Membership Audit (AMA) to IRL, which is a threat to its full membership status.

A letter to FNRL dated March 6, 2026, from IRL’s Head of Membership and Competition David Butler who highlighted their concern since FNRL has not submitted the 2023, 2024 and 2025 AMA.

“IRL continues to work closely with members to ensure governance is universally implements and standards continually improved,” stated Butler.

“As you are aware, one of the sports’ core objectives is to improve governance at all levels. Part of this process is the Annual Membership Audit, which member organisations and the international federations can use as a gauge of progress for year to year.”

He also referred to IRL’s letter dated April 4, 2025 where FNRL was informed that it had failed to submit the AMA 2024 and was non-compliant with the provisions of full membership and had until 2025 to establish its compliance.

“As FNRL has for the third consecutive year not submitted the AMA, your NF (FNRL) remains non-compliant with the provisions of full membership.”

In the letter, IRL stated that FNRL has not produced some of these main requirements;

• Registration certificates
• Evidence of legal entities
• Annual accounts

“FNRL will be recommended to the IRL Board for reclassification to affiliate membership. Your National Federation (FNRL) can choose to accept this classification or appeal it,” Buttler said.

“Should FNRL accept this reclassification please contact me by 5pm (UK) Friday (March 13, 2026) confirming acceptance. FNRL’s acceptance will be reported to the IRL Board on April 4, 2026, which can either support or reject the recommendation.”

He also outlined whatever options that could be taken.

However, Butler indicated that a change in membership classification would include loss of IRL voting rights and eligibility to enter the Men’s Rugby League World Cup.

When contacted on Monday, FNRL’s football administrator Epeli Tagivetaua referred the issue to their chairman Apenisa Dansey.

In his reply Dansey said this is a confidential information which should only be resolved by FNRL and IRL.

“I have had a virtual meeting with the IRL secretary general and this was one issue that he brought to my attention,” he said.

“He has instructed that our football administrator, Mr Epeli Tagivetaua to get in contact with

Mr Butler who will be help him out by virtual meeting. Mr Tagivetaua has been contact with Mr Butler and working a best solution that we can be compliant with our membership.”

When SUNsports contacted Butler he stated: “All IRL members are audited annually on their governance, finances, participation and technical capacity.

“The process is ongoing and a full report on all 57 national federation members will be submitted to the IRL Board in mid-April.

“Until that point, we are unable to comment on any individual national federation’s’ status in the audit process.”