Fiji Bulikula Rugby League World Cup Squad 2026
Fiji’s women are about to make history. On Sunday, the Bulikula play their first match at a Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
They earned their place the hard way, by winning the first IRL World Series, played in Canada in 2025.
Fiji Bulikula have named a 23-player squad for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026, coached by former Bati forward Jone Wesele, with 10 NRLW players.
They open against the Kiwi Ferns at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle on Sunday 18 October, at 1:50pm Sydney time (2:50pm Fiji, 3:50pm NZ).
Below, you’ll find the full squad with clubs, the team to face New Zealand, the key players, how to watch and every Bulikula fixture.
We’ll keep this page updated with team lists, results and injury news throughout the whole tournament.
Quick Answer: Fiji Bulikula at the Women’s World Cup 2026
- Squad: 23 players, named on 7 October 2026
- Coach: Jone Wesele
- NRLW players: 10, including Cassie Staples and Losana Lutu
- Group: Group B with New Zealand, PNG and France
- First match: New Zealand v Fiji, Sunday 18 October, Newcastle, 1:50pm Sydney (2:50pm Fiji)
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
Fiji Bulikula Squad for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026
Here is the full 23-player squad, as released on NRL.com, with each player’s club.
| Player | Club |
|---|---|
| Leilani Ahsam | Cronulla Sharks |
| Teaghan Hartigan | Burleigh Bears |
| Talei Holmes | Cronulla Sharks |
| Lorren Ieli | Easts Tigers |
| Tamika Jones | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Ebony Laing | Burleigh Bears |
| Sienna Laing | Burleigh Bears |
| Losana Lutu | Wests Tigers |
| Tahlia Marshall | Easts Tigers |
| Ema Masi | Norths Devils |
| Rory Muller | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Sereana Naitokatoka | Canberra Raiders |
| Taina Naividi | Sydney Roosters |
| Elizabeth Naleba | Burleigh Bears |
| Aliti Namoce | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Maria Paseka | St George Illawarra Dragons |
| Abigayle Sekitoga | Burleigh Bears |
| Latisha Smythe | Canterbury Bulldogs |
| Cassie Staples | Cronulla Sharks |
| Naomi Tegu | USP Raiders (Fiji) |
| Nanise Vakacavu | Cronulla Sharks |
| Isabella Waterman | Canberra Raiders |
| Luisa Yaranamua | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
Ten players come from NRLW clubs, including three from the Cronulla Sharks and two each from the Bulldogs and Raiders.
The rest play in the NSW and Queensland women’s competitions, and Naomi Tegu is the only player based in Fiji.
Queensland club Burleigh Bears have five players in the squad, more than any other club.
Fiji Bulikula Team List vs Kiwi Ferns
Fiji named this 17 for the opener against New Zealand, as published on NRL.com.
| No. | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cassie Staples |
| 2 | Maria Paseka |
| 3 | Isabella Waterman |
| 4 | Taina Naividi |
| 5 | Sienna Laing |
| 6 | Luisa Yaranamua |
| 7 | Losana Lutu |
| 8 | Latisha Smythe |
| 9 | Sereana Naitokatoka |
| 10 | Leilani Ahsam |
| 11 | Elizabeth Naleba |
| 12 | Tamika Jones |
| 13 | Talei Holmes |
| 14 | Tahlia Marshall |
| 15 | Teaghan Hartigan |
| 16 | Lorren Ieli |
| 17 | Nanise Vakacavu |
Cassie Staples starts at fullback, with Luisa Yaranamua and Losana Lutu in the halves and Sereana Naitokatoka at hooker.
Leilani Ahsam and Latisha Smythe start up front, with Talei Holmes at lock and Tamika Jones and Elizabeth Naleba in the second row.
Coaches can still make late changes, so the final 17 is confirmed about an hour before kick-off on Sunday.
Key Fiji Bulikula Players to Watch
Cassie Staples is the last line of defence at fullback. The Cronulla Sharks player will be busy against a fast Kiwi Ferns backline.
Losana Lutu, of the Wests Tigers, runs the attack at halfback and will control Fiji’s kicking game.
Hooker Sereana Naitokatoka brings NRLW experience from the Canberra Raiders, and she’ll set the pace around the ruck.
In the forwards, Leilani Ahsam and Talei Holmes give Fiji size and work rate in the middle of the field.
Fiji Bulikula Fixtures at the Women’s World Cup
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sun 18 Oct | New Zealand 18-12 Fiji (FT) | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| Sat 24 Oct | Fiji v PNG | Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
| Sat 31 Oct | Fiji v France | Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast |
The opener against the Kiwi Ferns kicks off at 1:50pm Sydney time, which is 2:50pm in Fiji and 3:50pm in New Zealand.
It’s a double-header with the Fiji Bati, who play the Cook Islands at the same ground later that afternoon.
The PNG game is in Port Moresby, where the Orchids will have a big home crowd behind them.
The top two in Group B reach the semi-finals. See every women’s game in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.
Who Is the Fiji Bulikula Coach?
Jone Wesele is the Fiji Bulikula head coach. He is a former Fiji Bati forward, and this is his first World Cup as a national head coach.
Wesele has backed the players who helped Fiji qualify at the World Series in Canada.
“These players have proved their worth when they represented our country in the World Cup qualifiers in Canada,” he told the Fiji Sun.
His challenge is to turn that qualifying form into wins against far more experienced teams.
How Did Fiji Bulikula Qualify for the World Cup?
Fiji took the final place at the Women’s World Cup by winning the first IRL World Series, held in Canada in 2025.
Australia, New Zealand, England and PNG qualified automatically, while France, Wales and Samoa came through other qualifiers.
For Fiji, it means a first Women’s Rugby League World Cup, alongside the Bati in the men’s tournament.
See how the men’s team is shaping up on our Fiji Rugby League World Cup squad page.
How to Watch Fiji Bulikula at the World Cup
Every Fiji Bulikula match is live on the Seven Network and 7plus in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand and Premier Sports in the UK.
In Australia, you can stream every game free on 7plus with a free account.
Following the Bulikula from Fiji or overseas? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
Tickets for the Newcastle double-header start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster.
Fiji Bulikula World Cup Squad: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the Fiji Bulikula.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
Who is in the Fiji Bulikula squad for the 2026 World Cup?
Fiji named 23 players, including Cassie Staples, Losana Lutu and Sereana Naitokatoka.
Ten of them play in the NRLW.
Naomi Tegu is the only player based in Fiji.
Who is the Fiji Bulikula coach?
Jone Wesele is the head coach.
He is a former Fiji Bati forward.
This is his first World Cup as a national head coach.
When do Fiji Bulikula play New Zealand?
Fiji play the Kiwi Ferns on Sunday 18 October 2026.
The match is at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
It kicks off at 1:50pm Sydney time.
What time is Kiwi Ferns vs Fiji in NZ?
The match kicks off at 3:50pm New Zealand time on Sunday 18 October.
That’s 2:50pm in Fiji.
It’s live on Sky Sport in New Zealand.
Conclusion
The Fiji Bulikula are playing their first Women’s Rugby League World Cup, with a 23-player squad led by coach Jone Wesele.
Ten NRLW players give them real quality, led by Cassie Staples, Losana Lutu and Sereana Naitokatoka.
Their campaign starts against the Kiwi Ferns in Newcastle on 18 October, before games against PNG and France.
Size up their first opponents on our Kiwi Ferns World Cup squad page, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
