Fiji could secure entry into NSW Cup soon

Fiji could have their entry into the NSW Cup rubber stamped as early as tomorrow as they seek to uncover the next generation of more talents.

The bid team, which is being spearheaded by Queensland and Fiji rugby league legend Petero Civoniceva, will make their case to the NSW Rugby League board as they aim to enter the reserve grade competition next year.

The project has been three years in the making and is well advanced with plans to play out of the 15,000‑capacity ANZ Stadium in Suva and set up a base at Sigatoka, where the players would eat, sleep and train in a live‑in environment.

The consortium earlier in the year hosted NSWRL CEO Dave Todden to present their case and the final hurdle is to prove they have the financial and corporate backing to stand on their own two feet.

It was born out of Civoniceva’s experiences playing for the Fijian national side in the 2013 World Cup where he heard first hand from his teammates the difficulty they had finding a pathway to the NRL.

The prize on offer is the deep well of talent that exists in Fiji as officials battle with rugby union for access to the country's top players.