British Army Gunner Mitieli Vulikijapani gets late World Cup call-up
Soldier and Hull FC centre, Gunner Mitieli Vulikijapani, has been given a late call-up to play for Fiji at the Rugby League World Cup.
The former Rugby Union player was called up to his country's preliminary squad to replace injured Hull teammate, Joe Lovodua, and trained with the team after their arrival in the UK.
But Gnr Vulikijapani has now been confirmed as part of Fiji's 19-man squad ahead of their first World Cup clash against current champions Australia on Saturday.
He participated in a warm-up match against World Cup hosts England in Leeds last Friday, where the Bati lost 50-0.
Speaking ahead of the clash, he said: "I think it is a dream come true for me, especially joining the Army from Fiji in 2017 and then coming from the Union and up into League, it is a dream come true."
Best known as 'Mitchy' to his rugby and Army colleagues, he says that he is "proud" to represent the British Army and his country of birth.
He said: "I am proud to represent my country and playing against England is a special part for me, so I'm looking forward to it today."
The men's Rugby League World Cup, which was postponed a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, is running in parity with the women's and the wheelchair rugby world cups for the first time.
? Australia begin their World Cup defence against Fiji at Headingley Stadium on Saturday.
— Rugby League World Cup 2021 (@RLWC2021) October 13, 2022
Both sides have confirmed their 19-man squads ahead the clash – a repeat of the RLWC2017 semi-final.
Read more ⤵️#RLWC2021 | @Kangaroos | @fijirugbyleague
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