Fiji national rugby sevens team

The Fiji National Rugby Sevens Team has competed in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Olympics. They won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, the country's first Olympic medal in any event.[1] They are the only country in the world to have won the three major achievements in Sevens. They have won multiple World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Fiji women's national rugby sevens team.
Fiji Islands
UnionFiji Rugby Union
Coach(es)Gareth Baber
Captain(s)Vacant
Top scorerWaisale Serevi (1310)
Most triesJerry Tuwai (133)
Team kit
Change kit
Change kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances7 (First in 1993)
Best resultChampions (1997, 2005)
World Rugby series (2005–2006, 2014–2015, 2015–2016, 2018-2019)
Fiji national rugby sevens team
Medal record
Olympic Games
2016 Rio de JaneiroTeam
Pacific Games
1999 Santa RitaTeam
2003 SuvaTeam
2015 Port MoresbyTeam
2007 ApiaTeam
2011 NoumeaTeam
(South) Pacific Mini Games
2009 RarotongaTeam
2013 Mata-UtuTeam

Fiji Sevens is watched and enjoyed by fans around the world for its style of play — the "Flying Fijians" play with Fijian flair.[2] Their passing and offloads can be unorthodox for traditional rugby coaching, and more similar to basketball style.[3] Fiji is the only team to win the Sevens Treble, which is achieved by winning the Olympics, Sevens Series And World cup. Many other teams have won the sevens series and world cup but, Fiji is the only team to have won olympic gold.

History
See also: Rugby union in Fiji

The International Rugby Board (IRB) expanded the sevens rugby competition to become a series of 11 tournaments around the world. The debt the FRU incurred from the 2000 sevens series were significant. At the end of December 2000, the FRU was burdened with accumulated losses of F$933,306. Fiji appealed to the IRB for funding arguing that the sevens tournament was built around Fiji and they would not be able to participate without such funding. From that appeal flowed participation funds that enabled the islands teams to play in the World Sevens Series fully funded. By the end of November 2001, the FRU was sitting on a surplus of F$560,311 compared with the previous year's net loss of F$675,609.

The FRU again ran out of money in 2013 to support the national sevens team. The IRB had temporarily suspended funding due to concerns with FRU financial management and governance. The head coach went unpaid for months, other staff were terminated, and the team lacked funds for basic supplies such as rugby balls and bottled water.[4]

Waisale Serevi is highly regarded as the best player ever in sevens rugby. Nicknamed the "maestro", played in this side from 1989 to 2006 leading them to countless tournament victories, two Sevens World Cups in 1997 and 2005.

World Rugby Sevens Series
Main article: World Rugby Sevens Series
Summary
RankTimesSeasons
1st42005-06, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018-2019
2nd61999-2000, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2017–18
3rd52000-01, 2002–03, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17
4th52001-02, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11
Total20

Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series four times — first in 2005-06, and most recently in 2018-19. Fiji are one of only two teams — along with New Zealand — to finish in the top four of the World Series every season since its inception.

Sevens Series record
Year Position Rounds Points Most tries Most points
1999–00 2nd 10 180 Vilimoni Delasau (83)
2000–01 3rd 9 124
2001–02 4th 11 122
2002–03 3rd 7 94
2003–04 4th 8 84
2004–05 2nd 7 88
2005–06 1st 8 144
2006–07 2nd 8 128 William Ryder (416)
2007–08 4th 8 98 Emosi Vucago (25) Neumi Nanuku (146)
2008–09 2nd 8 102 Vereniki Goneva (24)
2009–10 4th 8 108 William Ryder (166)
2010–11 4th 8 122 Seremaia Burotu (29) Emosi Vucago (195)
2011–12 2nd 9 161 Joeli Lutumailagi (28) Metuisela Talebula (271)
2012–13 3rd 9 121 Samisoni Viriviri (29) Joji Baleviani Raqamate (247)
2013–14 3rd 9 144 Samisoni Viriviri (52) Samisoni Viriviri (260)
2014–15 1st 9 164 Savenaca Rawaca (42) Osea Kolinisau (312)
2015–16[5] 1st 10 181 Savenaca Rawaca (35) Vatemo Ravouvou (287)
2016–17 3rd 10 150
2017–18 2nd 10 180 Eroni Sau (37) Amenoni Nasilasila (316)
2018–19 1st 10 186 Aminiasi Tuimaba (46)
Total4 Titles1762681Nasoni Roko (125)Waisale Serevi (1,310)

Quadrennial tournaments

Summer Olympics

Fiji secured their first Olympic medal with a 43–7 win over Great Britain at the Deodoro Stadium in Rio, Brazil. The opening minute saw Osea Kolinisau left one and one with Tom Mitchell and although his fellow captain halted his progress, Kolinisau was still able to stretch and touch the ball down behind his head. Almost straight away, Fiji had a second try when Samisoni Viriviri muscled his way past two players before offloading to Jerry Tuwai to score under the posts. After that Britain were shell shocked and Fiji racked up a further five tries.

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Fiji has twice won the Rugby World Cup Sevens — first in 1997, and again in 2005. Both times, Waisale Serevi was chosen as player of the tournament.

World Cup Sevens record
Year Round Position Played Won Lost Drew Most tries Most points
1993 Semifinals 3rd 9 7 2 0
1997 Finals 1st 7 7 0 0 M. Vunibaka (12) W. Serevi (117)
2001 Semifinals 3rd 7 6 1 0
2005 Finals 1st 8 8 0 0
2009 Quarterfinals 5th 4 3 1 0
2013 Semifinals 3rd 6 4 2 0
2018 Semifinals 4th 4 2 2 0
Total2 Titles6/6453780M. Vunibaka (23)W. Serevi (297)

Commonwealth Games

Tournament Victories

Players

Current squad
For a complete list of players in the current World Series, see 2018–19 World Rugby Sevens Series squads § Fiji.

Former squads
Fiji team to the Fiji team to the 2018 London Sevens

  1. Sevuloni Mocenacagi
  2. Josua Vakurunabili
  3. Kalione Nasoko
  4. Paula Dranisinukula
  5. Semi Radradra
  6. Jasa Veremalua
  7. Josua Tuisova
  8. Vatemo Ravouvou
  9. Jerry Tuwai (c)
  10. Waisea Nacuqu
  11. Eroni Sau
  12. Amenoni Nasilasila
  13. Alasio Sovita Naduva (13th man)

Player records

The following section lists player records from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

Former players

In addition to the players listed above, other notable players include:

Head coaches
  • Gareth Baber (2016–present) -Has won the most tournaments by a Fiji 7s coach and he coached the side to their 4th World Series Title in 2019.
  • Ben Ryan (2013–16) - Ryan coached the Fiji 7s side to 2 back to back world series titles and the country's first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
  • Waisale Serevi (2005–07; 2008–09) — Serevi coached/played in the side from 2005-2007 guiding Fiji to their first World Sevens Series title in the 2005/2006 season.
  • Etuwate Waqa
  • Ratu Kitione Vesikula
  • Alifereti Dere (2010–13)
  • Pauliasi Tabulutu (2004–06)
  • Rupeni Ravonu
  • Peni Veidreyaki
  • Alifereti Cawanibuka
  • Josateki Sovau
  • Tomasi Cama (2001)
  • Sanivalati Laulau
  • Tevita Wainiqolo

See also

References
  • McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)
  1. "Fiji thrash Great Britain to win Olympic men's rugby sevens gold". Guardian. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  2. "Rugby Sevens final: Team GB thrashed 43-7 as Fiji win their first ever Olympic medal", Telegraph, Daniel Schofield, 12 August 2016.
  3. "Q&A: Ben Ryan on life after becoming an Olympic legend – and Fijian chief – as coach of the island’s gold-medal rugby team", South China Morning Post, James Porteous, 15 October 2016.
  4. “No Money, No Problem for Fiji Rugby Sevens Team”, New York Times, Emma Stoney, March 28, 2014.
  5. “Fiji secure back-to-back titles after day one in London”, Telegraph, Oliver Pickup, 21 May 2016.
  6. “Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal”, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016.
  7. “A potted history of sevens at the Commonwealth Games”, WorldRugby.org, 6 April 2018.
  8. “Fiji suspended from 2010 Commonwealth Games”, Herald Sun, Julie Tullberg, October 12, 2009.
  9. “Fiji drops Games boycott threat”, news.com.au, March 27, 2014.
  10. “Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal”, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016.
  11. "How Fiji Sevens’ Waisale Serevi and his band of ‘schoolchildren’ took the Hong Kong 1997 World Cup home", South China Morning Post, Sam Agars, 18 July 2018.
  12. "Fiji storm to victory in Oceania Sevens in Noosa with victory over New Zealand in the final", Ultimate Rugby Sevens, Nick Jordan, 4 October 2014.
  13. WorldRugby.org, updated 5 April 2020
  14. WorldRugby.org
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