World Cup beckons for Fiji and Lutu
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Fiji Bati players formed a guard of honour and sung a hymn as the Bulikula team departed their hotel in Suva for last Saturday’s World Cup qualifier against Cook Islands.
The night before the two teams had held a combined jersey presentation, with family members travelling from around Fiji to attend what was an emotional occasion for some players.
In the week leading up to their 18-6 triumph against the Cook Islands at HFC Stadium, the profile of the Bulikula players and interest in the team skyrocketed in Fiji.
A stirring Bulikula hymn
If they qualify for the 2026 World Cup by beating Fetū Sāmoa in Auckland on Saturday or winning next year’s World Series against Ireland, Nigeria and an Americas team – either Canada, Jamaica or USA – support is set to go through the roof.
“To have all those young kids and everyone watching is a huge stepping stone for women’s rugby league, and Fiji rugby league, so I am looking forward to see where the game goes,” Bulikula captain Talei Holmes said.
“We have got so much talent in Fiji, we have got so many girls coming through, and I’m excited for the world to see what we can do.”
The back page of last Sunday’s Fiji Times carried a large headline, ‘Bulikula wins’, with a sub-heading, ‘Keeps WC dream alive with strong performance’, and a photo of forward Nanise Vakacavu charging the ball into the Moana defence.
Vitalina Naikora 2nd Try
Yet media at the first Bulikula training session just a week earlier knew little about Holmes or the team’s other NRLW stars, including Sharks team-mate Cassie Staples and Wests Tigers playmaker Losana Lutu.
After watching Lutu’s stunning 2024 highlights, they spoke with the 20-year-old and then witnessed an emotional reunion with her aunty after 12 years that featured on the evening news and the back page of the Fiji Sun.
“It has been good just seeing everyone gel together and building that connection to culture,” said Lutu, who was born in Fiji and whose family are from the island of Beqa.
“We play for our families and there are a lot of little kids who look up to us, so we just want to make them proud and keep winning.
“It will mean a lot to make the World Cup so that is going to be extra motivating this week [against Samoa].”
A new Instagram account created for the Bulikula has been highlighting the family connections of the players and the villages they come from.
When forward Anastacia Shum Cottrell wore a Namosi rugby union jersey to training to represent the area her family was from, locals organised to travel to the game to support her.
Holmes, whose family links are to the island of Taveuni, also had strong support among the 3216 fans who defied monsoonal conditions on the day of the match to cheer the Bulikula to victory.
Talei Holmes Try
“I’ve got lots of extended family I haven’t even met before and they were all calling me out in the crowd,” Holmes said.
“It was amazing to see them. I had my aunty come to the jersey presentation so that was special because it was the first time I had met her.
“I loved playing in front of that crowd. I was so proud and so grateful for the support. We have got to win one more game and we are in the World Cup.
"Samoa are going to be tough but if we play the way we did [against Cook Islands] we can do anything.”
Match: Fetu Samoa v Fiji Bulikula
Week 3 -
home Team
Fetu Samoa
1st Position
away Team
Fiji Bulikula
2nd Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Snapshot
Pacific Bowl (women)
- Fetu Samoa and Fiji play off for a 2026 World Cup berth on Saturday at Go Media Stadium.
- The winner will also travel to Sydney to meet the third-placed Pacific Cup team on November 10 for a place in next year's top tier.
- The loser in Auckland will become the Pacific representative in the 2025 World Series to determine the eighth and final women's RLWC2026 berth against Ireland (Europe), Nigeria (Africa) and the winner of November's Americas qualifying tournament between Canada, Jamaica and USA.
Pacific Cup (women)
- The winner of Sunday's match between the Orchids and Kiwi Ferns in Port Moresby will play Australia in the final.
- The loser faces the winner of Saturday's World Cup qualifying final between Fiji and Samoa in a promotion-relegation play-off at CommBank Stadium on November 10 to retain their place in next year's Pacific Cup.
