Joe Taira signs deal with League 1 level club
Fiji Bati forward Jovilisi (Joe) Taira has signed a one year deal with
United Kingdom
(UK) club Oldham
Roughyeds.
Oldham Rugby
League Football Club, also known as the
Roughyeds, is a professional rugby league football club in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England.
The Buliya, Ono, Kadavu native played for the Fijian Bati during their warm up match England prior to the 2022 Rugby World Cup in October.
Two months later the 33-year-old sealed the deal with Roughyeds for the RFL League 1 competition, the third tier of British Rugby League competition.
He is among a few Fijian players now playing in the United Kingdom.
The Suva-born forward first joined Rochdale Hornets in 2016 played three seasons, picking up a club award-winning ‘Try of the Season’ award in 2017 against Bradford Bulls.
He returned to the club ahead of the 2021 season from championship side Batley Bulldogs, where he made 19 appearances and scored three tries. Taira has spent the majority of his career at Rochdale, making 104 appearances for the Hornets across five seasons.
He left the Hornets last season and most recently been playing rugby union in the Hull area.
According to Love Rugby League media, Roughyeds’ head coach Stuart Little is building a formidable team.
“We are building a good squad based on a nice balance of youth and experience,” Little said.
“Taira becomes the fourth ex-Rochdale player to have joined their derby rivals, following in the footsteps of Gregg McNally, Lewis Sheridan and Zac Baker.
“Taira, who has also enjoyed time at Batley, becomes the 26th player in Oldham’s squad for the 2023 League 1 campaign.”
Positive for Bati
Taira’s move would not only help him grow in his career but to the Fiji Bati system as well.
Head coach Joe Rabele now has a lot of players to work with in his wider squad ahead of upcoming Test matches and the next World Cup in France in October and November 2025.