Staples and Naikore worry Rabele – FBC News

(Source: FIJI Bulikula/Facebook)

Former Australia 7s speedster Cassie Staples is one of the players. Fiji Bulikula coach Joe Rabele is looking forward to seeing them take on the Cook Islands this weekend in the Pacific Bowl, which will also be a World Cup qualifier.

The newly minted netballer made her World Sevens Series debut for Australia in Langford, Canada in 2017 and burst onto the international scene, scoring five tries.

She was named in Australia’s squad for the 2018 Rugby World Cup and Commonwealth Games.

Rabele says the 34-year-old will be a valuable asset for Bulikula, as will former Fijian U15s star Vitalina Naikore, who now plays for the Cowboys in the NRLW.

“We are so lucky to have players like this who want to come and play rugby league, we are so lucky to have a lot of young girls playing in Australia because it is the biggest game for us, it is a World Cup qualifier for Bulikula. against the Cook Islands, so we have picked a formidable team for this campaign.”

It’s a must-win game for Bulicula against the Cook Islands if they want to keep their World Cup dream alive.

The winner of the Bulikula-Cook Islands match will face Fetu Samoa in Auckland on November 2 for a place in the 2026 World Cup.

After beating Tonga 30-16 at the weekend at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, Samoa now have a chance to qualify.

Tonga and the loser of Saturday night’s test between Bulikula and the Cook Islands will not compete.

However, the Auckland runner-up in the Samoan clash and the winner of the Bulicula-Kuksa game will compete in the World Series in 2025 to determine the eighth and final spot at RLWC2026.

The winner in Auckland will also play the third-placed team in the Pacific Cup at CommBank Stadium on November 10 for a chance of promotion to the top flight next year.

Bulikula set up camp in Suva yesterday.

The second round of the Pacific Bowl this weekend will also see Fiji take on Samoa, while Vodafone Fiji Bati takes on Cook Islands.

You can watch the Pacific Bowl Championship live on FBC Sports.