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Fiji

Union	Fiji Rugby Union
Coach(es)	Gareth Baber
Captain(s)	Jerry Tuwai
Top scorer	Waisale Serevi (1310)
Most tries	Nasoni Roko (125)
Team kit Change kit Change kit
World Cup
Appearances	(First in 1993)
Best result	Champions (1997, 2005) World Rugby series (2005–2006, 2014–2015, 2015–2016)

Fiji national rugby sevens team

Medal record
Olympic Games
	2016 Rio de Janeiro	Team
Pacific Games
	1999 Santa Rita	Team
	2003 Suva	Team
	2015 Port Moresby	Team
	2007 Apia	Team
	2011 Noumea	Team
(South) Pacific Mini Games
	2009 Rarotonga	Team
	2013 Mata-Utu	Team

The Fiji national rugby sevens team is one of the most successful rugby sevens teams in the world. Fiji has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record eighteen times since the tournament's inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice — in 1997 and 2005 (coincidentally, the two times it has been held in Hong Kong). Fiji also won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, the country's first Olympic medal in any event.^[1]

Fiji is also known 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]

History

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.^{[citation needed]} 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

Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series three times — first in 2005-06, and most recently in 2015-16. 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.^{[citation needed]}

Fiji sevens rugby team 2009

Quadrennial tournaments

Summer Olympics

Olympic Games record Year Round Pos Pld W L D Most tries Qualifying 2016[6] Final 1st 6 6 0 0 J. Tuisova (5) Finished first at the 2014–15 World Series 2020 To be determined In progress Total 1 Title 1/1 6 6 0 0

Olympic Games History 2016 Pool stage  Fiji 40 – 12  Brazil Win  Fiji 21 – 14  Argentina Win  Fiji 24 – 19  United States Win Quarterfinals  Fiji 12 – 7  New Zealand Win Semifinals  Fiji 20 – 5  Japan Win Final  Fiji 43 – 7  Great Britain Win 2020 To be determined

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
Total	2 Titles	6/6	45	37	8	0	M. Vunibaka (23)	W. Serevi (297)

Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games record[7] Year Round Position Pld W L D 1998 Finals 2nd 7 6 1 0 2002 Finals 2nd 6 4 2 0 2006 Semifinals 3rd 6 5 1 0 2010 Suspended[8] 2014 Ineligible[9] 2018 Finals 2nd 5 4 1 0 Total 0 Titles 0/3 19 15 4 0

Commonwealth Games History 1998 Round 1  Fiji 54 – 7  Wales Win Round 1  Fiji 71 – 0  Eswatini Win Round 1  Fiji 63 – 5  Malaysia Win Round 1  Fiji 71 – 0  Kenya Win Quarter-finals  Fiji 26 – 19  Canada Win Semi-finals  Fiji 28 – 14  Australia Win Final  Fiji 12 – 21  New Zealand Loss 2002 Pool stage  Fiji 75 – 0  Trinidad and Tobago Win Pool stage  Fiji 73 – 0  Malaysia Win Pool stage  Fiji 12 – 19  Australia Loss Quarter-finals  Fiji 7 – 5  England Win Semi-finals  Fiji 17 – 7  South Africa Win Final  Fiji 15 – 33  New Zealand Loss 2006 Pool stage  Fiji 31 – 14  Canada Win Pool stage  Fiji 63 – 0  Niue Win Pool stage  Fiji 33 – 7  Scotland Win Quarter-finals  Fiji 26 – 7  Wales Win Semi-finals  Fiji 14 – 21  England Loss Bronze Medal Match  Fiji 24 – 17  Australia Win 2010 Suspended 2014 Boycott 2018 Second place 2022 To be determined

Honours

• 
  World Sevens Series Winners (2005–06, 2014–15, 2015–16)


• 
  Summer Olympics Gold (2016)^[10]
  


• 
  Rugby World Cup Sevens Champions (1997, 2005)^[11]
  


• 
  Commonwealth Games: Silver (1998, 2002, 2018); Bronze (2006)


• 
  Hong Kong Sevens Winners (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997 (also the Rugby 7s World Cup), 1998, 1999, 2005 (also the Rugby 7s World Cup), 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)


• 
  World Games Gold (2001, 2005, 2009)


• 
  Pacific Games Gold (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007)


• 
  Darwin Hottest Sevens Winner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008)


• 
  Oceania Sevens Winner (2014)^[12]
  

Players

Current squad

Former squads

Player records

The following section lists player records from the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Former players

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

Head coaches

• 
  Gareth Baber (2016–present)


• 
  Ben Ryan (2013–16)


• 
  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

• Fiji Rugby Union


• Fiji national rugby union team

References

• McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)

External links

• Official website


• WorldRugby profile