The Ipswich Jets are thrilled to announce a new partnership with the Kaiviti Silktails, as we welcome six Fijian players into our Hostplus Cup team for the 2023 season. The Silktails are a Fijian based team in Sydney and compete in the Knock-On Effect NSW Cup and now with the Ipswich Jets in the Queensland Rugby League Hostplus Cup in 2023.
Working with the Silktails, the Ipswich Jets along with their NRL affiliated club the Sydney Roosters, have secured an agreement to welcome six players to the team and introduce them to the City of Ipswich and the Queensland Rugby League competition. The Ipswich Jets Head of Football Ben Cross, CEO Richard Hughes and Chairman Steven Johnson have been working closely with Silktails Chairman Petero Civoniceva and Executive Director Stephen Driscoll to successfully finalise the arrangement before the commencement of our Hostplus Cup pre season.
Executive Director Stephen Driscoll said; “Having a pathway for our players through the Hostplus Cup is just so exciting for our footy club from Fiji. This now provides our players with a dual second tier pathway opportunity in both NSW and QLD. To be able to do it with such a famous club as the Ipswich Jets as an extension of the newly formed Sydney Roosters alignment makes this deal even more special. The signing of six of our senior players including our Inaugural Club Captain Apakuki Tavoidi is a wonderful way to kick start off the partnership and everyone here in Fiji is just so excited for them.”
After the signing of the agreement Ipswich Jets Head of Football Ben Cross said; “This landmark affiliation will provide an opportunity for aspiring young Fijian rugby league players to pursue and develop their rugby league career at the next level, whilst creating a depth of player resource that will only strengthen the Ipswich Jets”. “Our local competition in the region will also benefit from the input of this talent, as has been the case previously with the likes of Nemani Valekapa, a local Fijian legend and former Ipswich Jet”
Chairman of the Jets Steven Johnson stated further “We proudly represent Ipswich itself a multi-cultural community, so we are always looking for opportunities to better connect the Jets across the wider community.”
He added that “Ipswich has a strong Fijian community and one of our greats is the Fijian Ferrari, Nem Valekapa, so when we had the chance to partner with the Kiaviti Silktails it was the perfect way for the Jets to engage with the Ipswich Fijian community and as the partnership develops, for the Jets to help grow the game in Fiji.”
The Kaiviti Silktails RLFC was born out of a dream Petero Civoniceva had for Fijian rugby players to achieve their goals back in 2014. The team joined the NSW Rugby League Ron Massey Cup in 2020, only to be halted by the COVID pandemic. In 2021 the team was also impacted by COVID, unable to finish their season, before returning with the opportunity to play in 2022, where the Silktails came to Sydney to play the full season in Australia.
The Ipswich Jets are thrilled to welcome
Timoci Bola
Ratu Temesia Jiliveceve
Manasa Kalou
Malakai Kovekalou
Mosese Qionimacawa
Apakuki Tavodi
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