The bid by Wests Tigers brothers Sione, Samuela and Latu Fainu to represent Fiji at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup has been unsuccessful after they were unable to provide the documentation required to confirm their eligibility.

The trio, who are eligible to play for both New Zealand and Tonga, had hoped to wear the Bati jersey later this year in honour of their Fijian heritage through their grandmother.

However, International Rugby League (IRL) Chairman Troy Grant confirmed that the brothers have not been able to supply accredited records from Fiji to support their application.

“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 it with accredited records from Fiji.”

Grant stressed that the IRL does not doubt the brothers’ genuine desire to represent Fiji, pointing to their public display of both Fijian and Tongan flags during the recent NRL Heritage Round.

“The IRL has no issues with their application or desire to represent Fiji as it’s evident they have a genuine desire to play for Fiji,” he said.

Despite granting the brothers additional time to gather supporting documents, the governing body’s strict eligibility rules remain unchanged.

“The IRL has rigid eligibility criteria and have given them more time to provide credible documents to support their application,” Grant added.

The decision means the talented Tigers trio are currently unable to represent Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup, leaving Tonga and New Zealand as their confirmed international options.