Rugby League World Cup: FNRL helping Wests Tigers Fainu brothers prove their Fijian heritage

The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) will continue its assistance to the Fainu brothers - Sione, Samuela and Latu - who are interested to play for the Fiji Bati at the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.

International Rugby League (IRL) board chairman Tony Grant told CODE Sports this week the trio can play for Fiji if they can provide documentation proof of their Fijian heritage.

The three are eligible to play for Tonga and New Zealand, but have also expressed their desire to play for Fiji, to honour their grandmother.

"All three are eligible for Tonga and NZ but believe they have Fijian heritage that they wish to honour," Grant told CODE Sports.

"Unfortunately, they've been unable to establish with accredited records from Fiji.

"IRL have no issues with their application or desire to represent Fiji as it's evident they have a genuine desire to play for Fiji and during heritage round recently flew both the Tongan and Fijian fags.

"The IRL has rigid eligibility criteria and have given them more time to provide credible documents to support their application."

The Wests Tigers trio have been unable to provide credible documents which would support their application to represent Fiji.

New Fiji Bati coach Mick Potter has been working hard with the FNRL to get the IRL's approval for the players.

FNRL board chairman Rajesh Singh said they are disappointed but are happy that the IRL had given the players time to provide documentation proof.

"We are working on it," Singh confirmed on Thursday.

The players were included in the initial Fiji Bati squad submitted to the IRL.

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup, co-hosted by Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, is scheduled to begin on 15 October.