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30-477: The game was introduced to Fiji only in 1992 but despite this there has been a long history of Fijian players making their mark in rugby league, most notably back in the 1960s when great players such as Joe Levula and Laitia Ravouvou joined Rochdale Hornets and became household names in the English competition. Interest and participation in rugby league snowballed throughout Fiji, and as well as continued success in

60-556: A change in government , in January 2024, the Government of New South Wales announced revised plans for a new $ 309 million renovation to transform the Stadium precinct into a modern venue for sporting and entertainment. The redevelopment will include a new western grandstand and refurbished eastern grandstand increasing the ground capacity from 22,500 to 25,000. To facilitate the redevelopment,

90-467: A 22–4 victory. They celebrated even more, as it meant Fiji reached their second consecutive World Cup semi-final. They took on Australia again, but this game was nothing like the group stage fixture. Fiji's errors conceded them 62 points against a classy Australian side. This defeat ended and equalled their best World Cup campaign in their history. In May 2014, Fiji took on Samoa in the 2014 Pacific Rugby League Test at Penrith Stadium . The International

120-418: A score of 32–14. As expected Fiji lost to both Australia and England, although they surprised many, as they only conceded 34 points against the teams in each game and they led 2–0 against Australia, and were within a few minutes of taking a half-time lead against England. Fiji would take on 'fierce Pacific rivals' Samoa in the quarter-final. They won the, passionate pacific, fixture and they would celebrate with

150-589: A thrilling 30–28 loss to Samoa before reversing the scoreline a few days later with a 30–28 win over the Tongans. Fiji won their final qualifying game against Cook Islands 40–4. Having qualified the Vodafone Fiji Bati team started their Rugby League World Cup 2008 campaign with 42–6 win over France followed by a 2-point defeat to Scotland, however they topped their group with a superior points difference. Beating Ireland in their quarter final they came within one match of

180-527: The 2000 World Cup , they had the misfortune to be placed in the same group as both England and Australia. But the Batis made a massive impression in their opening World Cup game in which they ran riot against South Africa, 52–6, and had the crowd on their feet at Keighley. During the Super League war , Fiji, like most countries other countries, aligned itself with Super League. In search of international competition,

210-843: The Australian Rugby League played a match against a "National Rugby League of Fiji" team in 1996. This match has been granted Test status by the ARL, but not by the Rugby League International Federation . Coached by Don Furner, Sr. and captained by Lote Tuqiri , Fiji competed in the 2000 World Cup but did not progress past the tournament's group stage. The Fiji Bati qualified for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup held in Australia after finishing second in Pacific qualifying behind Tonga . Fiji's qualification campaign started with

240-501: The COVID-19 pandemic . On 9 December 2021, Premier , Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres , minister for Tourism and Western Sydney, alongside Penrith Panthers players Nathan Cleary and Brian To'o officially announced the new stadium. Under the original plan, the stadium would have closed and been demolished at the end of the 2022 NRL season and reopened in 2025. However, in July 2022,

270-461: The Government of New South Wales considered funding a major redevelopment of the stadium. The proposal would have entailed the demolition of the facility and the construction of a 25,000 to 30,000-seat stadium on the site. The stadium was reported to cost $ 200 to $ 300 million and would be built with the funds originally allocated for the redevelopment of Stadium Australia which was cancelled due to

300-617: The National Soccer League , the Penrith City SC club played here in 1984–1985. The stadium hosted a Western Sydney Wanderers pre-season friendly against Adelaide United on 22 September 2013, and was host to a competitive A-League Premiership match against the Wellington Phoenix on 8 February 2015. The Wanderers also played an FFA Cup match against Brisbane Roar at the venue on 11 August 2015. On 16 September 2017

330-667: The Rugby League World Sevens , the Batis began playing full 13-aside games against international teams. By 1994, Fiji had hammered the Great Britain amateurs 40–8 and, captained by mighty front-rower James Pickering , beat France 20–12. They had also produced their first rugby league superstar after winger Noa Nadruku joined Canberra Raiders and in 1993 became the top try-scorer in the Australian competition. Fiji took part in their first World Cup in 1995 where, just as

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360-602: The 1960s. In 1951, over 3000 fans came to Buckhurst Park to see the final between Suva and the Northern District. Levula scored four tries to end Suva’s 10 year hold on the trophy. He was selected in the Fiji to tour New Zealand. He made his début for Fiji at fly-half and he scored a brace of tries against the Māori All Blacks to beat them 21–14 for which he received a New Zealand Rugby honour of being nominated as ‘Player of

390-511: The Kumuls to make a shock comeback and win the match 24–22. In the 2017 Rugby League World Cup in New Zealand & Australia, Fiji topped Group D before recording their biggest upset victory, defeating New Zealand 4–2 in the quarter-finals. They then lost to Australia 54–6 in the semi-finals. Fiji automatically qualified for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup having reached the semi-finals of

420-687: The NSW government entered talks with the Penrith Paceway, a major horse racing facility, to buy the land it sits on to build a brand new stadium. The new plan would have allowed the Panthers to play at the existing site until the new stadium was built. In February 2023, the ground hosted the 2023 World Club Challenge clash between two-time reigning NRL premiers the Penrith Panthers and four-time defending Super League champions St Helens R.F.C. Following

450-579: The Women in League round of the NRL, Centrebet had agreed to forego the naming rights for one week, during which time the stadium would officially be known as McGrath Foundation Stadium. On 28 January 2014, it was announced that sport betting agency Sportingbet acquired the rights to the sponsorship name of the stadium, changing the stadium's name to Sportingbet Stadium Penrith. In 2015, Pepper Money replaced Sportingbet as

480-617: The World Cup final, but were defeated by Australia, ending the tournament in 4th place. Fiji automatically qualified for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup after participating in the 2008 tournament. They took on Australia , England and Ireland in the pool stage. In their first match they took on 'the Wolfhounds'. They played at the famous Spotland Stadium , in Rochdale , where Fiji have an historic affiliation with. The Fijians convincingly won by

510-837: The Year'. In August 1952, he was on the wing for Fiji when they created history by beating Australia . He joined the Athletics Fiji team in 1954 to take part in the Australian Athletics Championships . He finished 2nd in the 100-yard dash behind Hector Hogan . In 1961, he defied the FRU when he left rugby union and went to England to join the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team with fellow Fijian Orisi Dawai , and later joined by Fijians Voate Drui and Laitia Ravouvou . Levula transferred to Bradford Northern in 1964. He

540-463: The match and the inaugural Melanesian Cup title. Fiji never looked like losing the match after an easy first half performance, leading 18-0 at the break. They went on to win the test match by 22–10. In May 2016, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2016 Melanesian Cup test at Pirtek Stadium . Fiji had a similar situation in this year's Melanesian Cup with a half-time score of 16–8 but this time around they conceded too many second half points allowing

570-542: The naming rights sponsor, renaming the stadium to Pepper Stadium. At the end of 2017, Pepper Group ended its sponsorship of the ground and the stadium was renamed Panthers Stadium. On 22 March 2021, BlueBet was announced as the stadium's naming rights partner, signing a two-year deal. In the National Rugby League competition, the Penrith Panthers club have played at this stadium, as their home ground, ever since making their first grade appearance in 1967. In

600-409: The naming rights, from early 2006 until 31 October 2010. The stadium's name was sometimes shortened to CUA Stadium. On 22 January 2011, it was announced that sport betting agency Centrebet had acquired the rights to the sponsorship name of the stadium until 2016. Under their sponsorship rights the stadium was also known as the "Centrebet Stadium Penrith". On 21 June 2011, it was announced that, for

630-753: The previous Rugby League World Cup . The 2021 tournament will take place in England . The squad selected for the 2024 Pacific Championships was announced on 8 October 2024. Statistics in the table are drawn from the website, Rugby League Project , and include the NRL Grand Final on 6 October 2024. Notes: The table below shows Fiji's all-time international rugby league record as of 21 October 2024. They have been participating in International fixtures since 1992. Joe Levula Josefa Vuniyayawa Levula (15 June 1930 – 2 July 1989), known as "Jo" or "Joe",

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660-512: The stadium and Howell Oval. Relocation of the line would have cost nearly double what the initial funding would cover. Subsequently, a stand was built at Howell Oval, and the facilities at the scoreboard end of the stadium were redeveloped. A new video screen was purchased from Subiaco Oval in Perth in 2018 and was installed prior to the start of the 2019 NRL season at the Family Hill end. In 2021

690-486: The stadium closed after the 2024 NRL season and is scheduled to reopen in 2026 with the Panthers to play out of Western Sydney Stadium . The final NRL game at Penrith Stadium prior to redevelopment took place on September 13, 2024, with Penrith taking on the Sydney Roosters in a Qualifying Final in front of a sellout crowd of 21,483. Penrith Stadium was sponsored by Credit Union Australia , who previously held

720-565: The stadium only had one main grandstand, the Western grandstand while the ground itself was oval in shape. In the 1980s, the stadium was redeveloped into a rectangle arena more suitable for rugby league and other sports such as association football (soccer) and rugby union. This redevelopment also saw the construction of the Eastern Grandstand. In 2006, a joint Federal and State Government funding project saw $ 30 million worth of investments come to

750-463: The stadium. In the subsequent developments, the Western Grandstand was extended and revamped. Following the completion of the project, the stadium held 8,000 seats in the grandstand. Two of Samoa 's 2008 Rugby League World Cup matches were played at CUA Stadium: their Group C game against Tonga and their 9th place play-off match against former twice World Cup finalists France . It

780-553: The venue is 22,582 in a match between the Panthers and their Western Sydney rivals Parramatta on 17 July 2010. It closed in September 2024 for redevelopment that will include a new western grandstand and refurbished eastern grandstand increasing the ground capacity to 25,000. Panthers Stadium has been used by the Penrith Panthers since their entry into the New South Wales Rugby League competition in 1967. Initially,

810-643: Was a Fijian track athlete, and rugby union and professional rugby league footballer. He represented the Fijian national rugby union team before turning professional with the Rochdale Hornets and Bradford Northern in England. He primarily played on the wing. Levula earned the nickname "The Flying Fijian", which went on to become the nickname of the Fiji national rugby union team. Levula, who had an unorthodox high knee action and his exceptionally long strides represented Fiji in

840-461: Was briefly featured in a 2009 60 Minutes episode titled "Brute Force" showing Public Order & Riot Squad officers across Sydney . At the end of 2010, the Federal and State Governments provided funding to redevelop the scoreboard end of the stadium. Initial plans were to build a double-sided grandstand between Penrith Stadium and Howell Oval. However, it was found that a main sewer line ran between

870-465: Was created as a qualifier for the final 2014 Four Nations spot. It was also a chance for the Four Nations team (winner of this international) to warm-up before the event kicked off later in the year. Fiji failed to qualify with their fierce pacific rivals getting the better of them by 32–16. In May 2015, Fiji took on Papua New Guinea in the 2015 Melanesian Cup test at Cbus Super Stadium . Fiji won

900-536: Was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. Penrith Stadium Penrith Stadium , currently known as BlueBet Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a rugby league and association football stadium located in Penrith, New South Wales , Australia. The 22,500 capacity venue is the home ground for the Penrith Panthers who play in the National Rugby League (NRL). The all-time attendance record for

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