SYDNEY,04 MARCH 2021 (ABC) – The Kaiviti Silktails are less than three weeks away from their first match of the 2021 rugby league season in New South Wales.
The Fijian side have set up their training camp in Sydney, after coming through two weeks of quarantine, which ended in unusual fashion when the players gathered on their balconies to sing songs of thanks for the hotel staff.
A video of the performance has gone viral with more than two million views.
“It was a touching moment for everyone and I think it’s a sign of what this team will bring to this competition, and the effect they’ll have on the community here in Australia,” Chief Executive Steve Driscoll has told Pacific Beat.
Now though it’s down to business for the players, as they look forward to playing a full season in the Ron Massey Cup, after their debut appearance was cut to just one game last year when the pandemic struck.
The Silktails’ first match will be at their temporary home Mascot Oval against Blacktown Workers on March 20th.
The season starts a week before that, but the Fijian team have been given a bye to allow them to have more preparation time.
“We’ve been on the field every day, but we’re just building slowly, “ Steve Driscoll said.
“We had a session against the (NRL team) Roosters under 21 side which was really beneficial for us…it gave us a good idea of what we’re in for in terms of how teams prepare in Australia.”
“But after missing key weeks, we have to make sure we use our time wisely,” he said.
