In an unusual training session, Tonga’s women’s rugby league team faced Fiji’s men’s team, the Fiji Bati, in a practice match yesterday at Albert Park in Suva ahead of their upcoming Pacific Championships games.
A Tongan official suggested the idea, and Fiji’s men’s team agreed. The Tongan women played against top Bati players like Viliame Kikau and Maika Sivo. The session was competitive, lasting 40 minutes, with both teams learning from the experience.
“It’s obviously a bit weird but it was really good,” said Kikau, a Bulldogs star.
“The Tongan coach was telling us to go hard, tackle and get some time on the ground. “They were really good talkers and were loud the whole session. They helped us a little bit and hopefully we helped them in their preparation for this weekend,” Kikau said.
Tonga women’s co-captain Natasha Penitani, who plays for Wests Tigers, appreciated the challenge. “It was really amazing for the men to let us have an opposed session against them. To get that physicality and to give us the opportunity to really structure the way we play, and even to defend against them, it was really nice of them to do that for us.”
“It was a great experience. We kind of got thrown into the deep, and it was a huge adjustment. It doesn’t help when they’re twice our size, but it all goes towards the preparation, and I feel as though it did us well. “There’s no mercy, no surrender here. You could tell that they started off a little bit cautious, and then Kelvin was kind of telling them to rip in, so they really did,” Penitani added.
The training comes as the Tonga women prepare for their World Cup qualifier against Samoa, while Fiji Bati gets ready to face Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Championships. Both games are on this Saturday evening at the HFC Bank stadium in Suva.
A welcome event for the NRL Pacific Championships was held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.
Source: Fox Sports