The Fiji Times

Saulo helps out

While a lot of attention is placed on the Rugby World Cup in France, a group of Fijian boys are bringing flair an power to the local club rugby. Led by former Flying Fijians prop Manasa Saulo, the five players have joined forces with the Saint Medard Rugby Club in the Federale 1 competition. The...

Black Ferns 7s ready

The New Zealand national 7s side is looking for another successful outing at the second leg of the Fiji Airways Mini International Women’s 7s tournament at Churchill Park in Lautoka this week. The side won the first leg that was held at Albert Park in Suva last week. Head coach Cory Sweeney said they wanted...

FIJI WILL BE TAKING THE MATCH AGAINST GEORGIA ‘LIKE A FINAL’ | Crucial Match

THE FIJI Water Flying Fijians side will be taking the match against Georgia at the Rugby World Cup like a final this Sunday. The robust centre Josua Tuisova said this during an interview in France. Tuisova said he watched the 18-all draw between Portugal and Georgia over the weekend and rated both teams highly. “I...

‘Cool head’ | PLAYERS PRAISED FOR MAINTAINING DISCIPLINE

If there’s one area the FIJI Water Flying Fijians have improved on at the Rugby World Cup, it is their discipline. Poor discipline had been an Achilles heel for past Fiji teams and they were punished for a range of foul plays. After conceding only one yellow card and less than 10 penalties in their...

Jones says committed to Australia job after Wales debacle

By Nick Mulvenney LYON, France (Reuters) – Eddie Jones said he remained 100% committed to the task of turning Australian rugby around after his young side were thrashed by Wales to move to the brink of elimination from the World Cup in the pool stage. Jones was hired on a five-year contract in January but...

Welsh gathering momentum as they book quarter-final berth

LYON, France (Reuters) – Wales dramatically lifted their performance levels to record a one-sided win over Australia and book a quarter-final berth at the Rugby World Cup, to the delight of their coach Warren Gatland. Given little chance just months ago after a dismal Six Nations championship, the Welsh are now the first country to...

Local players prove worth

Fiji Rugby Union women’s development manager Vela Naucukidi believes local players have proved themselves to be in the Fijiana 15s team. During an interview yesterday at the National Provincial Girls 7s tournament Naucukidi said local competitions were crucial in identifying players. “I believe it has increased the numbers in terms of the performance of the...

Naiyala girls ready

Being the only rural school in the Annual National Provincial Girls 7s competition, Naiyala High School was ready to stamp its mark in the local women’s rugby competition. The 13 players left Naiyala in Wainibuka, Tailevu at 5.30am and were the first ones to arrive at Albert Park on Saturday for the annual competition. Schoolteacher...

Funds for WOWS Kids

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians have thanked all those who have come out to support their cardio challenge to raise funds for WOWS Kids Fiji. The “London to Bordeaux” Cardio Challenge emerged after the Flying Fijians historic test match win against England with the aim to maintain fitness, boost morale, and engage public support, all...

Team’s boost

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians are using the two-week break between games at the Rugby World Cup to recharge for the next match. After beating Australia 22-15 in Lyon last week, the side is on a 13-day break before their next Pool C match against Georgia in Bordeaux. The team management has used the time...

PM on King’s visit

“I am a proud Fijian,” says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka after seeing King Charles III visit our Fiji Water Flying Fijian rugby team in Bordeaux, France. Prime Minister Rabuka, who is in New York for the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78), yesterday told this newspaper via Facebook message that he...

Training stats impress Cawanibuka

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians strength and conditioning coach Nacanieli Cawanibuka says the players are working hard on the field and in the gym, and are exceeding what is expected of them. For the team management, it is something positive for the Rugby World Cup campaign. Cawanibuka, who is attending his third RWC tournament, said...

Spiritual bonding | Rev Rinakama impacts players’ togetherness

The involvement of the Reverend Joji Rinakama with the FIJI Water Flying Fijians helps players reconnect with their upbringing and have a clear mind during the Rugby World Cup. Strength and conditioning coach Nacanieli Cawanibuka says while most teams have employed sports psychology, the Flying Fijians have reverted to using the principles of the Bible...

France could switch Dupont replacement depending on opponents

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) – With Antoine Dupont injured for at least France’s final Pool A World Cup game against Italy, head coach Fabien Galthie could opt to switch between Maxime Lucu or Baptiste Couilloud at scrumhalf depending on the opponent instead of naming just one of them. Dupont underwent surgery on a facial...

England’s Smith making irresistible case for inclusion

By Mitch Phillips NICE, France (Reuters) – Coach Steve Borthwick is not generally a man to make radical decisions but England fans excited by what they saw against Chile on Saturday will probably be praying that he sticks with the experiment of playing Marcus Smith at fullback. Despite Henry Arundell equalling his country’s record with...

Wales book quarter-final spot as Australia face elimination

LYON, France (Reuters) – Wales became the first side to advance to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a one-sided 40-6 demolition of Australia on Sunday that left the two-time past winners facing embarrassingly early elimination. The victory at the OL Stadium guarantees a top-two finish in Pool C for Wales while Australia’s destiny is...

Nurtured by love | Granny’s support propels Ravutaumada to success

FIJI Water Flying Fijian Selestino Ravutaumada’s successful achievement on the rugby field started as a primary school boy when his parents went their separate ways. The situation, his grandmother Aqela Ravutaumada said didn’t put him down, but he remained the strong-headed Naselesele boy who’d find jobs during the holidays and weekends to help out. “I...

Ireland must stay grounded says Sexton after win over Springboks

By John Irish and Marine Strauss PARIS (Reuters) – Ireland must remain calm after edging defending world champions South Africa, captain Johnny Sexton said on Saturday as he lauded his team’s resilience and the “insane” support of thousands of green-clad fans that lifted them in tense moments. Top-ranked Ireland claimed a 13-8 statement victory over...

Springboks still on track to win World Cup – coach Nienaber

PARIS (Reuters) -South Africa’s lack of accuracy close to the Ireland tryline and off the kicking tee were major contributors to their epic 13-8 loss in a Rugby World Cup Pool B showdown on Saturday but the belief that they can win the World Cup still burns bright. Ireland were deserved winners and underlined their...

Seven-try Scotland see off Tonga with 45-17 bonus-point win

By Mitch Phillips NICE, France (Reuters) -Scotland, almost the forgotten team of the Rugby World Cup, showed that they are still very much alive in the Group of Death as they secured the bonus-point victory they desperately needed by beating Tonga 45-17 on Sunday. After having to wait two weeks since their opening-weekend defeat by...

Taylor hails 7s tourney

More tournaments such as the Fiji Airways Mini International Women’s Tournament held over the weekend at Albert Park should take place, Australia women’s 7s head coach Reg Taylor says. The Australia side has been in the country for the past two weeks and competed at the tournament alongside Fiji, New Zealand, and France. “This is...

France shocks Ferns

Despite winning all their matches on day one of the Fiji Airways Mini International Women’s 7s tournament, the Black Ferns 7s side lost to France in an entertaining encounter at Albert Park yesterday. The women from New Zealand lost to France 19-26 but managed to beat Australia 10-7 and the Fijiana 19-5. Meanwhile, the Fijiana...

Proposal to conduct provincial 7s tourneys

The Annual National Provincial Girls 7s competition kicked off in Albert Park, Suva yesterday after a lapse of two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. About 32 teams registered for the under- 17 and U19 grades. The annual event was organised by the Fiji Rugby Union and funded by the UN Women Pacific with the...

Lautoka defends Vanua Trophy

Lautoka Maroons defeated a very strong Rewa side in the Nivea Vanua Trophy Challenge match by 19-7 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. Maroons got on the score board early in the match, after captain Apakuki Vuaviri went over for a try to lead 7-0. Minutes later, Sunia Talebula, younger brother of former Fiji 7s...

‘Play the full 80’

This squad is playing the full 80 minutes of rugby, says Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne. He commended the FIJI Water Flying Fijians team during the Drua Talk podcast with the Drua’s head of commercial and marketing Shane Hussein. “You cannot wear this team down, as they not only playing 80 minutes...

Byrne ‘proud of Simi’

Really proud of Simi, says Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne. He said the FIJI Water Flying Fijians scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli was the one player that impressed him the most during our historic win against Australia at the Rugby World Cup pool C clash on Monday. While talking to the Drua’s head of commercial and...

Naca meets the King

FIJI Water Flying Fijians strength and conditioning coach Nacanieli Cawanibuka was over the moon as he got to meet the King of United Kingdom, King Charles III in Bordeaux, France yesterday. The former national 7s trainer was with the Flying Fijians team in France when they came across King Charles and Queen Camilla who were...

Three down | Nadro makes second half comeback to hold Suva

In a match that lived up to its hype and expectations, Nadroga retained the INKK Farebrother Sullivan Trophy after fending off a tough challenge from Suva at Sigatoka’s Lawaqa Park yesterday. Down 15-3 at one stage of the second spell. Nadroga came back with two tries to tie the scores at 15-all. The competitions format...

France hope for Dupont return after captain undergoes surgery

By Julien Pretot PARIS (Reuters) -France captain Antoine Dupont has undergone surgery on a facial injury and will return to his Rugby World Cup squad to recover, the French federation (FFR) said on Saturday, though it gave no timeline for when the scrumhalf might return to the field. The 26-year-old sustained the injury in Thursday’s...

Rugby

Tuqiri replaces Koroiduadua