Fiji national rugby union team

The Fiji national rugby union team represents Fiji in men's international rugby union competes every four years at the Rugby World Cup, and their best performances were the 1987 and 2007 tournaments when they defeated Argentina and Wales respectively to reach the quarterfinals. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. Fiji also plays in the Pacific Tri-Nations, and has won the most Pacific Tri-Nations Championships of the three participating teams.

Fiji
Nickname(s)Flying Fijians
EmblemPalm
UnionFiji Rugby Union
Head coachVern Cotter
CaptainDominiko Waqaniburotu
Most capsNicky Little (71)
Top scorerNicky Little (670)
Top try scorerVereniki Goneva (22)
Home stadiumANZ National Stadium
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current11 (as of 23 November 2020)
Highest8 (2018)
Lowest16 (2012)
First international
Samoa 0–6 Fiji
(Apia, Samoa; 18 August 1924)
Biggest win
Fiji 120–4 Niue
(Apia, Samoa; 10 September 1983)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 91–0 Fiji
(Auckland, New Zealand; 10 June 2005)
World Cup
Appearances8 (First in 1987)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 1987 and 2007
Websitewww.fijirugby.com

Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the main sport. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000. One obstacle for Fiji is simply getting their rugby players to play for the national team, as many have contracts in Europe or with Super Rugby teams where the money is far more rewarding. The repatriated salaries of its overseas stars have become an important part of some local economies.

The cibi (pronounced [ˈðimbi]) war dance is performed by the Fiji rugby team before each Test match. It has been used on the rugby field since 1939, though its origins date back to the country's warring times with its Pacific neighbours.

History

Fiji presenting Cibi before 2011 Rugby World Cup match against South Africa.

Early years

Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu Island in 1884. In 1913 a Union was founded for the European settlers.

In December 1913, the All Blacks, who had been touring so very successfully in California, were on their way back to New Zealand. The Fiji RFU arranged a game with them at Albert Park, the first representative match to be played in the colony. The Fiji team were Europeans. The All Blacks won 67–3; Fiji's points came from a try scored by their captain and coach, PJ Sheehan. By 1914 a 'native competition' was started and in 1915 a Fiji Native Union was begun and became affiliated to the Fiji RFU.

Inter-war period

Fiji team in 1924

Fiji played their first international against Western Samoa in Apia, Samoa on 18 August 1924. Fiji's 20-man squad came exclusively from the five registered native clubs of the time. The match was played at 7 am to allow the Samoans time to get to work afterwards and was played on a pitch with a large tree on the halfway line. Fiji wore black and won 6–0 despite playing barefoot. The return match was won 9–3 by Samoa to draw the series. The first-ever Fiji test team continued their overseas adventure with a nine-match tour of Tonga. Though Fiji lost the first test played in Nukuʻalofa 9–6, they were not to lose again, taking the second test 14–3 then drawing the decider 0–0. They won all six of the matches against non-test opposition.

Auckland University College were the first overseas side to visit Fiji in 1926, The Kiwi students played the Fiji Europeans and finished the three-match series with a win, loss and draw. Tonga also visited Fiji that year and for the first time Fiji played in their present strip of white jersey, palm tree badge and black shorts. The three match series finished level with Tonga winning the first test 9–6; Fiji winning the second 14–3 and the final game a 0–0 draw.

During the 1927 season, a General Meeting was called for the purpose of arranging a return visit to New Zealand at the invitation of Auckland University. Some 30 players expressed their willingness to make the trip, but after all arrangements had been made, there were insufficient players available so management cancelled the trip, much to the regret of Auckland.

Fiji team in 1932

Between 1924 and 1938 Fiji and Tonga played three test series every alternate year. During this period this was the only representative rugby union that Fiji played. Matches between the two Pacific nations were hard fought; many have claimed that the ancient feuding wars between the Islanders were transplanted onto the rugby field. Troubles during the third Test of Fiji's 1928 tour to Tonga forced the game to be abandoned with Tonga losing 11–8.

The first New Zealand Māori team to visit Fiji came in 1938. Fijians played in boots for the first time but there was still a tendency to take off boots during the match and throw them to the touch-line. On the five-match tour, the Māori beat Fiji 2nd XV and Fiji Europeans before playing a three match series. The first test ended in a 3–3 draw, the second an 11–5 win for the Fijians and the Māori won the final test 6–3 to square the series.

Fiji team in 1939

In 1939 Fiji toured New Zealand for the first time. Fiji's captain for that tour, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, decided that his side should have a war dance to rival the haka. He approached Ratu Bola, the high chief of the warrior clan of Navusaradave in Bau, who taught them the cibi which has been Fiji's pre-match ritual ever since. With many players still preferring to play barefoot, the Fijians played with a care-free spirit and created history by becoming the first team to go through a full tour of New Zealand unbeaten, winning seven and drawing one, a record that stands to this day. They played and beat the Māori again 14–4.

Post-war era

Fiji team in 1948

Fiji successfully toured New Zealand again in 1951. They beat the New Zealand Māori 21–14. Fiji's first tour of Australia helped the Australian Rugby Union recover from the brink of bankruptcy in 1952. The Test series was drawn 1–1 in front of record crowds. Australia won the first test 15–9 but the Fijians took the second with a 17–15 win.

A second tour of Australia took place in 1954 and again drew record crowds. Again Australia won the first test but only by 22–19. The test series was drawn 1–1 after Fiji won the second test 18–16. The same year Fiji played host to Western Samoa. Fiji toured New Zealand again in 1957 and beat the Māoris 36–13 in Dunedin and 17–8 in Wellington, then defeated a strong Auckland team 38–17.

Fiji team in 1964

In 1964 Fiji toured Europe for the first time, they played five memorable games in Wales, culminating in a classic encounter in Cardiff that was talked about for years. Wales won 28–22 but conceded six tries for just the second time in their history. In 1970 a rampant Fijian side destroyed the Barbarians 29–9 at Gosforth. A last-minute try saw New Zealand safely through 14–13 over Fiji in Suva in 1974.

In August 1977 the British Lions made a stopover in Fiji on the way home from their tour of New Zealand. Fiji beat them 25–21 at Buckhurst Park, Suva. In 1982 Fiji beat Vancouver XV to begin a 15-match winning streak through to 1984.

Modern era

Fiji played their first full test against Wales in Cardiff in 1985, the home pack dominating in a 40–3 win with two tries to Phil Davies. Fiji were also heavily beaten by Llanelli and Cardiff, but lost by just one point in their test with Ireland.

Wales visited Suva the following year, where captain Dai Pickering's summer tour was to a premature end when he suffered concussion. Richard Moriarty took over and saw his side's 13–0 lead cut to a single point before Wales pulled away for a 15–22 win.

In 1987 Fiji made the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup and seemed close to beating France according to the match referee, at one point even leading 4-3, but were eventually ground down by the French 31-16. [1]

In 1991 Rugby World Cup Fiji lost all three of its matches and finished bottom of its pool. Wales' third test win over Fiji came in Suva in 1994. The tourists fielded a weakened line-up to allow all their squad a game, but they were good enough to run out 23–8 victors.

Fiji had a troubled tour of Wales and Ireland in 1995, losing six of nine games with defeat to Neath, Cardiff and Pontypridd. However, they managed to run Wales close at the Arms Park, losing only 15–19 win. They failed to qualify for the 1995 World Cup having lost to Tonga and Western Samoa.

Fiji rebuilt ahead of the 1999 World Cup, new coach Brad Johnstone instilling discipline and determination into their set-piece play. They made a winning start by beating Canada and Namibia and again seemed about to beat France in Toulouse when things went wrong. A controversial refereeing performance from Paddy O'Brien was felt to have cost them a win over France, Fiji losing 28–19. They did make the quarter-final play-off but lost 45–24 to England at Twickenham. Soon after the tournament Johnstone departed for Italy.

In 2001 Fiji were crowned Pacific Rim champions, defeating Samoa 28–17 in the final in Tokyo. Fiji's played Wales again at the Millennium Stadium in November 2002. Two tries and 21 points from the boot of Stephen Jones helped the home side to a comfortable 58–14 win.

Fiji began their 2003 Rugby World Cup qualifying campaign in June 2002 when the three leading Pacific Island nations faced each other in a round robin in the second round of the Oceania zone qualifiers. The Fijians started with defeats of Samoa and Tonga, but their loss to Samoa on home soil meant that they had to beat Tonga by more than 20 points to finish top of the pool. This they duly did with a 47–20 win in Nadi. At the World Cup they beat Japan 41–13 and narrowly survived a scare against the US Eagles winning 19–18. However a 20–22 loss against Scotland and an 18–61 beating by France saw them finish third in their pool and fail to qualify for the knock-out stage.

Results since have been mixed for Fiji. Although they have traditionally been the strongest of the Pacific Nations, they were beaten 29–27 by New Zealand Maori in 2004 and went down 91–0 by the All Blacks. In July 2006, five Fiji internationals were banned from playing international rugby for the rest of the year following a drunken brawl in Japan after a Pacific Five Nations match. Their 2007 season started off as one of Fiji's worst seasons. They had a very inexperienced team and lost to both pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa, and suffered heavy defeats to Australia and the Junior All Blacks. The only win for Fiji at the 2007 "Pacific 6 Nations" was against Japan, however they did manage an unexpected 14–14 draw against Australia A. With most of Fiji's more experienced players back in the team Fiji slowly improved in the 2007 world cup to qualify for the quarter finals for the first time in 20 years.

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 by 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. Shannon Fraser and Gregg Mumm from Australia acted as assistant coaches for the period leading up to the world cup and were accredited for much of the Fijians side's success.

2011 Rugby World Cup

Fiji was placed in Pool D of the 2011 Rugby World Cup along with South Africa, Wales, Samoa and Namibia. Fiji won their first match against Namibia with 49–25. But it could not manage to repeat 2007 World Cup performance. They lost to South Africa, Wales, Samoa with a huge margin. Final scores were 3–49 against South Africa, 7–27 against Samoa & 0–66 against Wales.[8]

Wins against Tier 1 nations

Record

Men's World Rugby Rankings
Top 30 rankings as of 13 January 2021[3]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1  South Africa094.20
2  England089.49
3  New Zealand088.95
4  France085.30
5  Ireland084.65
6  Australia083.08
7  Scotland080.82
8  Argentina080.31
9  Wales079.36
10  Japan079.29
11  Fiji076.87
12  Georgia072.18
13  Tonga071.44
14  Italy070.88
15  Samoa070.72
16  United States068.10
17  Spain067.51
18  Uruguay067.02
19  Romania065.33
20  Portugal062.12
21  Russia061.96
22  Hong Kong061.23
23  Canada061.11
24  Namibia061.04
25  Netherlands060.09
26  Brazil058.19
27  Belgium057.17
28   Switzerland054.12
29  Chile053.81
30  Germany053.13
*Change from the previous week
Fiji's historical rankings

See or edit raw graph data.

Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 16 November 2020[3]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Fiji national XV at test level up until 5 December 2020.[4]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Argentina413025.0%96130−34
 Australia2221919.0%269650−381
Barbarian312033.37%59114−55
 Belgium1100100.0%760+76
British and Irish Lions1100100.0%2521+4
 Canada1293075.0%409221+188
 Canada XV1100100.0%133+10
 Chile1100100.0%4116+25
 Classic All Blacks1100100.0%3314+19
 Cook Islands2200100.0%16113+148
 England70700.0%109303−194
 England XV30300.0%3892−54
 France1019010.0%132371−239
 France XV10100.0%413−9
 Georgia541075%14782+65
 Hong Kong3300100.0%15533+122
 Ireland40400.0%51172−121
 Ireland XV20200.0%1524−9
 Italy1266050.0%275282−7
 Japan18144077.8%488346+142
 Namibia2200100.011643+73
 Māori All Blacks29720224.1%383517−134
 New Zealand50500.00%50364−314
 New Zealand XV50500.00%25155−130
 Niue1100100.0%1204+116
 Papua New Guinea3300100.0%2533+250
 Portugal2200100.0%6230+32
 Romania321066.7%7042+28
 Samoa533020359.4%1049921+128
 Scotland826025.0%189258−69
 Scotland XV20200.0%2253−31
 Solomon Islands2200100.0%19913+186
 South Africa30300.0%41129−88
 Spain1100100.0%3920+19
 Tonga926227367.4%18091237+572
 United States651083.3%14397+46
 Uruguay431075.0%18176+105
 Wales1211018.33%162358−196
 Wales XV30300.0%3367−34
Total3471691681048.55%74647240+224

World Cup record

World Cup record World Cup Qualification record
Year Round P W D L F A P W D L F A
1987Quarter-finals410372132Automatically qualified
1991Pool Stage30032763
1995Did not qualify21012634
1999Play-off420214811322007317
2003Pool Stage420298114430112380
2007Quarter-finals530213417343017483
2011Pool Stage410359167Automatically qualified
2015Pool stage41038410111001086
2019Pool stage4103110108440010160
2023QualifiedAutomatically qualified
Total 9/10 32 11 0 21 732 971 17 14 0 3 505 280

Kit history

Fiji traditionally plays with a home kit consisting of a white shirt, black shorts and black and white hooped socks. The away kit traditionally used to be a white and black hooped shirt with white shorts and hooped socks, although since KooGa's tenure as supplier, colours such as light blue or black were used.

Kit Suppliers:

Sponsors:

Current squad

Fiji named a 32-man squad on 12 October for the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup.[5]

  • Caps Updated: 05 December 2020
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Mesu Dolokoto Hooker (1995-01-21) January 21, 1995 9 Glasgow Warriors
Sam Matavesi Hooker (1992-01-13) January 13, 1992 15 Northampton Saints
Tevita Ikanivere Hooker (1999-09-06) September 6, 1999 1 Fijian Latui
Mesake Doge Prop (1993-01-04) January 4, 1993 2 Brive
Haereiti Hetet Prop (1997-07-10) July 10, 1997 1 Bay of Plenty
Jone Koroiduadua Prop (1999-03-10) March 10, 1999 0 Fijian Latui
Eroni Mawi Prop (1996-06-02) June 2, 1996 13 Saracens
Peni Ravai Prop (1990-06-16) June 16, 1990 34 Clermont
Samu Tawake Prop (1996-09-11) September 11, 1996 1 New York
Temo Mayanavanua Lock (1997-11-09) November 9, 1997 1 Northland
Chris Minimbi Lock (2000-01-24) January 24, 2000 1 Fijian Latui
Leone Nakarawa Lock (1988-04-02) April 2, 1988 62 Glasgow Warriors
Tevita Ratuva Lock (1995-05-08) May 8, 1995 7 Scarlets
Albert Tuisue Lock (1993-06-06) June 6, 1993 8 London Irish
Johnny Dyer Back row (1992-02-06) February 6, 1992 2 Biarritz
Kitione Kamikamica Back row (1996-04-27) April 27, 1996 0 Brive
Mesulame Kunavula Back row (1995-10-31) October 31, 1995 1 Edinburgh
Manueli Ratuniyarawa Back row 1 Nadroga
Lekima Tagitagivalu Back row (1995-12-04) December 4, 1995 0 Pau
Simione Kuruvoli Scrum-half (1999-01-02) January 2, 1999 1 TAILEVU
Frank Lomani Scrum-half (1996-04-18) April 18, 1996 16 Melbourne Rebels
Peni Matawalu Scrum-half (1997-07-08) July 8, 1997 0 NAMOSI
Tuidraki Samusamuvodre Fly-half (1998-02-16) February 16, 1998 0 Dallas Jackals
Ben Volavola Fly-half (1991-01-13) January 13, 1991 37 Perpignan
Levani Botia Centre (1989-03-14) March 14, 1989 19 La Rochelle
Waisea Nayacalevu Centre (1990-06-26) June 26, 1990 23 Stade Français
Semi Radradra (c) Centre (1992-07-13) July 13, 1992 11 Bristol Bears
Serupepeli Vularika Centre (1990-04-29) April 29, 1990 12 Fijian Latui
Nemani Nadolo Wing (1988-01-31) January 31, 1988 30 Leicester Tigers
Setariki Tuicuvu Wing (1995-09-07) September 7, 1995 2 Brive
Josua Tuisova Wing (1994-02-04) February 4, 1994 14 Lyon
Kini Murimurivalu Fullback (1989-05-15) May 15, 1989 31 Leicester Tigers

Player records

Most caps

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1Nicky LittleFly-half1996–20117160113734052.11
2Akapusi QeraFlanker2005–2018645593230251.56
3Campese Ma'afuProp2010–20196252103129251.61
Leone NakarawaLock2009–625753328154.03
5Vereniki GonevaCentre2007–20195949102829249.15
6Sunia KotoHooker2005–20175747103026153.50
7Seremaia BaiCentre2000–2016535032725151.88
8Dominiko WaqaniburotuFlanker2010–514922823054.90
9Jacob RauluniScrum-half1995–2006494092623053.06
Joeli VeitayakiProp1994–2003494542623053.06

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1Vereniki GonevaCentre2007–201959491011022
Nemani NadoloWing2010–3028223722
3Sanivalati LaulauWing1980–1985323208020
4Norman LigairiFullback2000–2010473988517
5Timoci NagusaWing2008–2018332678016
Viliame SatalaCentre1999–2005292728016
7Fero LasagavibauWing1997–2002232037515
8Leone NakarawaLock2009–625756513
Metuisela TalebulaWing2012-242227313
Aisea TuilevuWing1996–2004191816513

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1Nicky LittleFly-half1996–201171601167021171402
2Seremaia BaiCentre2000–201653503321558591
3Severo KoroduaduaFullback1982–199127270268056475
4Nemani NadoloWing2010–302822372232210
5Ben VolavolaFly-half2015–37316234459311
6Waisale SereviFly-half1989–20033823152211140273
7Vereniki GonevaCentre2007–201959491011022000
8Taniela RawaqaFullback2007–201117134103419150
9Norman LigairiFullback2000–2010473988517000
103 players on 80 points

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most points in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1.Severo KoroduaduaFullback3601800 Niue Apia10 September 1983
2.Semesa SikivouScrum-half2711200 Solomon Islands Port Moresby21 August 1969
3.Nicky LittleFly-half250550 Italy L'Aquila28 August 1999
4.Tevita MakutuWing246000 Papua New Guinea Suva30 August 1979
Sanivalati LaulauWing246000 Solomon Islands Apia8 September 1983
Nicky LittleFly-half240640 Hong Kong Hong Kong29 September 1996
7.Nicky LittleFly-half231340 Italy Lautoka15 July 2000
Nicky LittleFly-half230170 Samoa Tokyo8 July 2001
Ben VolavolaFly-half231900 Uruguay Hartpury17 November 2018
10.6 players on 22 points

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most tries in a match

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1.Tevita MakutuWing246000 Papua New Guinea Suva30 August 1979
Sanivalati LaulauWing246000 Solomon Islands Apia8 September 1983
3.George SailosiWing155000 Papua New Guinea Port Moresby18 August 1969
4.9 players on 4 tries

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Most matches as captain

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries
1Akapusi QeraFlanker2011–2018382215159.21204
2Greg SmithHooker1996–2003301713056.6651
3Esala TeleniNumber 81983–198919811042.10287
4Mosese RauluniScrum-half2004–200817107058.8251
5Dominiko WaqaniburotuFlanker2010–1688050.00102
6Epi BolawaqatabuNumber 81969–19731265154.16217
Deacon ManuProp2010–20121238129.1600
8Alifereti DoviverataNumber 82001–20071147036.3651
Simon RaiwaluiLock1999–20061174063.6351
102 players on 10 caps

Last updated: Georgia vs Fiji, 5 December 2020. Statistics include officially capped matches only.

Notable players

Nat Uluiviti, who also played for the Fiji national cricket team.

Coaches

Years Coach
1954 William Goodsir
1964 Douglas Walkden-Brown
1987 Jo Sovau
1989-1991 Samisoni Viriviri Sr
1996 Meli Kurisaru
1996–1999 Brad Johnstone
2000–2001 Greg Smith
2001-2002 Ifereimi Tawake (caretaker)
2002–2003 Mac McCallion
2004–2007 Wayne Pivac
2007–2008 Ilivasi Tabua
2009-2010 Mike Brewer
2010–2011 Sam Domoni
2012–2014 Inoke Male
2014–2019 John McKee
2020-present Vern Cotter

See also

References

[6]

  1. "Rugby World Cup: The Tongan priest, Fijian panache and airport training". Rugby World. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2015.
  2. "Test-match di giugno: Italrugby contro Fiji, Samoa e Giappone". www.onrugby.it. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  3. "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  4. Fiji rugby statistics
  5. "Fiji squad for the Autumn Nations Cup". Rugby World. Rugby World. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 13 October 2020.
  6. Fiji Rugby World Cup Points Table

Sources

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