Fiji at the Rugby World Cup

The Fiji national rugby union team has played in all Rugby World Cup tournaments, except in 1995, when they did not qualify. Their best performances were in the inaugural 1987 tournament and in the 2007 tournament, when they made it to the quarter finals.

Nation Number of appearances First appearance Most recent appearance Streak Best result
 Fiji8198720196Quarter finals, 1987, 2007
Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

By position

Rugby World Cup Qualification
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad Pos Pld W D L PF PA
1987 Quarter-finals 4 1 0 3 72 132 Squad Invited
1991 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 27 63 Squad Automatically qualified
1995 Did not qualify 2nd 2 1 0 1 26 34
1999 Quarter-final play-offs 4 2 0 2 148 113 Squad 2nd 5 4 0 1 151 116
2003 Pool Stage 4 2 0 2 98 114 Squad 1st 4 3 0 1 123 80
2007 Quarter-finals 5 3 0 2 134 173 Squad 2nd 4 3 0 1 74 83
2011 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 59 167 Squad Automatically qualified
2015 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 84 101 Squad 1st 1 1 0 0 108 6
2019 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 110 108 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 101 60
2023 Automatically qualified
Total Quarter-finals 32 11 0 21 732 971 20 16 0 4 583 379
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

By match

1987 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team
P W D L PF PA tries Pts
 New Zealand 330019034306
 Fiji 31025610162
 Italy 31024011052
 Argentina 3102499042
24 May 1987
Argentina  9–28  Fiji
Try: Penalty try
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta
Tries: Gale
Naivilawasa
Nalaga
Savai
Con: Koroduadua (2)
Rokowailoa
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Rugby Park, Hamilton
Referee: Jim Fleming

27 May 1987
New Zealand  74–13  Fiji
Tries: Gallagher (4)
Green (4)
Kirk
Kirwan
Penalty try
Whetton
Con: Fox (10)
Pen: Fox (2)
Try: Cama
Pen: Koroduadua (3)
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 26,000
Referee: Derek Bevan

31 May 1987
Fiji  15–18  Italy
Try: Naivilawasa
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Drop: Quro
Tries: Cuttitta
Cucchiella
Mascioletti
Pen: Collodo
Drop: Collodo
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Keith Lawrence

Quarter final

7 June 1987
Fiji  16–31  France
Tries: Qoro
Damu
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Tries: Rodriguez (2)
Lorieux
Lagisquet
Con: Laporte (3)
Pen: Laporte (2)
Drop: Laporte


1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool 4 games –

Team
P W D L PF PA Pts
 France 330082256
 Canada 320145334
 Romania 310231642
 Fiji 300327630
5 October 1991
Canada  13–3  Fiji
Tries: Stewart
Pen: Rees (3)
Drop: Serevi
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald

8 October 1991
France  33–9  Fiji
Tries: Lafond (3), Sella (2), Camberabero
Con: Camberabero (3)
Pen: Camberabero
Tries: Naruma
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua
Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble
Referee: Derek Bevan

12 October 1991
Fiji  15–17  Romania
Pen: Turuva (2)
Drop: Rabaka (2), Turuva
Tries: Ion, Dumitras, Sasu
Con: Răcean
Pen: Nichitean
Parc Municipal des Sports, Brive
Referee: Owen Doyle


1999 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team
P W D L PF PA Pts
 France 3300108529
 Fiji 3201124687
 Canada 3102114825
 Namibia 3003421863
1 October 1999
21:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji  67–18  Namibia
Try: Lasagavibau (2)
S. Tawake
Rauluni
Satala
Mocelutu
Smith
Tiko
Katalau
Con: Serevi (8)
Pen: Serevi (2)
Try: Jacobs
Senekal
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)

9 October 1999
13:30 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji  38–22  Canada
Try: Satala (2)
Vunibaka
Lasagavibau
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Little (3)
Drop: Little
Try: James
Con: Rees
Pen: Rees (4)
Drop: Rees
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

16 October 1999
14:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
France  28–19  Fiji
Try: Juillet
Dominici
Penalty try
Con: Dourthe (2)
Pen: Dourthe (2)
Lamaison
Try: Uluinayau
Con: Little
Pen: Little (4)
Stade de Toulouse
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Quarter-final play-offs –

20 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
England  45–24  Fiji
Try: Luger
Back
Beal
Greening
Con: Dawson
Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (7)
Report Try: Satala
Nakauta
Tiko
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Serevi
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)


2003 Rugby World Cup

Group B games –

Team
Pld W D L PF PA BP Pts
 France 440020470420
 Scotland 430110297214
 Fiji 420298114210
 United States 41038612526
 Japan 40047916300
11 October 2003
France  61–18  Fiji
Tries: Dominici (2), Harinordoquy, Jauzion (3), Ibañez
Con: Michalak (4)
Pen: Michalak (6)
Tries: Naevo, Caucaunibuca
Con: Little
Pen: Little (2)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 46,795
Referee: Alain Rolland

15 October 2003
Fiji  19–18  United States
Tries: Naevo
Con: Little
Pen: Little (4)
Tries: van Zyl, Schubert
Con: Hercus
Pen: Hercus (2)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 30,990
Referee: Joël Jutge

23 October 2003
Fiji  41–13  Japan
Tries: Tuilevu (2), Ligairi (2), Vunibaka
Con: Little (2)
Pen: Little (4)
Tries: Miller
Con: Miller
Pen: Miller
Drop: Miller

1 November 2003
Scotland  22–20  Fiji
Tries: Smith
Con: Paterson
Pen: Paterson (5)
Tries: Caucaunibuca (2)
Con: Little (2)
Pen: Little (2)
Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 37,137
Referee: Tony Spreadbury


2007 Rugby World Cup

Fiji were placed in Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup along with Wales, Canada, Japan and Australia. After beating Japan and Canada in close matches, Fiji rested several key players against Australia for the crucial game against Wales. Australia defeated Fiji 55–12. Fiji's fate in the tournament came down to a "winner advances" game against Wales which Fiji won 38–34 and qualified for the quarter-finals for the second time. Former Wallaby great Michael Lynagh described the see-sawing match as one of the best matches "of all time". Fiji lost their quarter final match against South Africa, however their above expectations performance in the tournament resulted in them moving up to 9th in the world rankings – their highest ever position.

Pool B games –

Team
Pld W D L TF PF PA +/ BP Pts
 Australia 44003021541+174420
 Fiji 43011411413622315
 Wales 420223168105+63412
 Japan 401376421014613
 Canada 40136511206902
12 September 2007
18:00
Japan  31–35  Fiji
Tries: Thompson (2) 51' c, 78' c
Soma 62' m
Con: Onishi (2/3)
Pen: Onishi (4/4) 18', 30', 40+', 43'
Report Tries: Qera (2) 36' c, 49' c
Rabeni 56' m
Leawere 71' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (3/3) 4', 55', 74'
16 September 2007
14:00
Fiji  29–16  Canada
Tries: Leawere 22' c
Ratuvou (2) 28' m, 80+' c
Delasau 42' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (1/3) 8'
Report Tries: Smith 60' c
Con: Pritchard (1/1)
Pen: Pritchard (3/4) 4', 27', 74'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
23 September 2007
14:30
Australia  55–12  Fiji
Tries: Giteau (2) 17' c, 36' m
Mitchell (3) 31' c, 70' c, 79' m
Ashley-Cooper 57' c
Hoiles 74' m
Con: Giteau (4/6)
Pen: Giteau (3/3) 28', 42', 50'
Drop: Barnes (1/1) 44'
Report Tries: Neivua 40+' m
Ratuva 47' c
Con: Bai (1/1)
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Attendance: 32,231
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
29 September 2007
17:00
Wales  34–38  Fiji
Try: Popham 34' c
S. Williams 45' c
G. Thomas 48' m
M. Jones 51' c
M. Williams 73' m
Con: Hook (1/1)
S. Jones (2/4)
Pen: S. Jones (1/2) 5'
Report Tries: Qera 16' c
Delasau 19' m
Leawere 25' c
Dewes 77' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (4/5) 21', 24', 54', 60'

Quarter finals match-


7 October 2007
15:00
South Africa  37–20  Fiji
Tries: Fourie 13' m
Smit 35' m
Pietersen 51' c
Smith 70' c
James 80' c
Con: Montgomery (3/5)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 8'
Montgomery (1/2) 63'
Report Tries: Delasau 57' c
Bobo 59' c
Con: Bai (2/2)
Pen: Bai (2/2) 26', 44'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 55,943
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)


2011 Rugby World Cup

Team
Pld W D L TF PF PA +/ BP Pts
 South Africa 44002116624+142218
 Wales 43012318034+146315
 Samoa 420299149+42210
 Fiji 410375916710815
 Namibia 400454426622200
10 September 2011Fiji 49–25 NamibiaInternational Stadium, Rotorua
17 September 2011South Africa 49–3 FijiRegional Stadium, Wellington
25 September 2011Fiji 7–27 SamoaEden Park, Auckland
2 October 2011Wales 66–0 FijiWaikato Stadium, Hamilton


2015 Rugby World Cup

Team
Pld W D L TF PF PA +/ BP Pts
 Australia 44001714135+106117
 Wales 43011111162+49113
 England 42021613375+58311
 Fiji 41031084101–1715
 Uruguay 4004230226–19600
18 September 2015England 35–11 FijiTwickenham Stadium, London
23 September 2015Australia 28–13 FijiMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
1 October 2015Wales 23–13 FijiMillennium Stadium, Cardiff
6 October 2015Fiji 47–15 UruguayStadium mk, Milton Keynes


2019 Rugby World Cup

Team
Pld W D L TF PF PA +/ BP Pts
 Wales 44001713669+67319
 Australia 43012013668+68416
 Fiji 410317110108+237
 Georgia 4103965122−5715
 Uruguay 4103660140−8004
21 September 2019
13:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Australia  39–21  Fiji
Try: Hooper 18' c
Hodge 36' m
Latu (2) 57' m, 62' m
Kerevi 69' c
Koroibete 73' c
Con: Lealiifano (1/2) 19'
To'omua (2/3) 70', 74'
Pen: Hodge (1/1) 51'
Report Try: Yato 9' m
Nayacalevu 44' c
Con: Volavola (1/2) 46'
Pen: Volavola (3/3) 5', 23', 31'
Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Attendance: 36,482
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
25 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
(2 BP) Fiji  27–30  Uruguay
Try: Dolokoto 8' m
Mawi 19' c
Ratuniyarawa 48' m
Matawalu (2) 67' m, 80+1' m
Con: J. Matavesi (1/3) 20'
Report Try: Arata 14' c
Diana 22' c
Cat 26' c
Con: Berchesi (3/3) 15', 23', 28'
Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 38', 61', 76'
3 October 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
Georgia  10–45  Fiji (1 BP)
Try: Gorgodze 53' c
Con: Matiashvili (1/1) 55'
Pen: Matiashvili (1/2) 35'
Report Try: Nayacalevu 20' c
Lomani 45' m
Tuisova 50' m
Radradra (2) 61' c, 76' c
Kunatani 68' c
Ratuniyarawa 70' c
Con: Volavola (5/7) 21', 63', 70', 72', 77'
9 October 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Wales  29–17  Fiji
Try: Adams (3) 18' c, 31' c, 61' m
L. Williams 69' c
Con: Biggar (2/2) 20', 32'
Patchell (1/2) 70'
Pen: Patchell (1/1) 58'
Report Try: Tuisova 4' m
Murimurivalu 9' m
Penalty try 54'
Oita Stadium, Ōita
Attendance: 33,379
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Hosting

So far Fiji has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments. Due to the lack of facilities, and the small size of the island nation, but hopefully it will host it in the near future.

References

  • Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
  • Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)
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