Fiji national rugby sevens team
Union | Fiji Rugby Union | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Coach(es) | Gareth Baber | |||
Captain(s) | Jerry Tuwai | |||
Top scorer | Waisale Serevi (1310) | |||
Most tries | Nasoni Roko (125) | |||
| ||||
World Cup | ||||
Appearances | (First in 1993) | |||
Best result | Champions (1997, 2005) World Rugby series (2005–2006, 2014–2015, 2015–2016) |
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]
Contents
1 History
2 World Rugby Sevens Series
3 Quadrennial tournaments
3.1 Summer Olympics
3.2 Rugby World Cup Sevens
3.3 Commonwealth Games
4 Honours
5 Players
5.1 Current squad
5.2 Former squads
5.3 Player records
5.4 Former players
6 Head coaches
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
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
Rank | Times | Seasons |
---|---|---|
1st | 3 | 2005-06, 2014-15, 2015-16 |
2nd | 6 | 1999-2000, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2011-12, 2017-18 |
3rd | 5 | 2000-01, 2002-03, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17 |
4th | 5 | 2001-02, 2003-04, 2007-08, 2009-10, 2010-11 |
Total | 19 |
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]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b7/Fiji_Sevens_Rugby_Team_2009.jpg/220px-Fiji_Sevens_Rugby_Team_2009.jpg)
Fiji sevens rugby team 2009
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) | ||||
Total | 3 Titles | 146 | 2117 | Nasoni 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 | |
![]() | Semifinals | 3rd | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | |||
![]() | Finals | 1st | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | M. Vunibaka (12) | W. Serevi (117) | |
![]() | Semifinals | 3rd | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | |||
![]() | Finals | 1st | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | |||
![]() | Quarterfinals | 5th | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |||
![]() | Semifinals | 3rd | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||
![]() | Semifinals | 4th | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |||
Total | 2 Titles | 6/6 | 45 | 37 | 8 | 0 | M. Vunibaka (23) | W. Serevi (297) |
Commonwealth Games
|
|
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
Kalione Nasoko (Captain)- Josua Vakurunabili
- Apenisa Cakaubalavu
- Beniamino Vota
- Sevuloni Mocenacagi
- Waisea Nacuqu
- Jerry Tuwai
- Napoliani Ratu
- Ilikena Vuduolo
- Filimoni Botitu
- Alasio Naduva
- Batinisavu Uluiyata
- Vatemo Ravouvou
- Sevuloni Mocenacagi
- Josua Vakurunabili
- Kalione Nasoko
- Paula Dranisinukula
- Semi Radradra
- Jasa Veremalua
- Josua Tuisova
- Vatemo Ravouvou
Jerry Tuwai (c)- Waisea Nacuqu
- Eroni Sau
- Amenoni Nasilasila
Alasio Sovita Naduva (13th man)
Player records
The following section lists player records from the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Most tries: (updated September 2018)[13]
| Most points: (updated September 2018)[14]
|
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)
^ "Fiji thrash Great Britain to win Olympic men's rugby sevens gold". Guardian. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 12 August 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Rugby Sevens final: Team GB thrashed 43-7 as Fiji win their first ever Olympic medal", Telegraph, Daniel Schofield, 12 August 2016.
^ "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.
^ “No Money, No Problem for Fiji Rugby Sevens Team”, New York Times, Emma Stoney, March 28, 2014.
^ “Fiji secure back-to-back titles after day one in London”, Telegraph, Oliver Pickup, 21 May 2016.
^ “Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal”, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016.
^ “A potted history of sevens at the Commonwealth Games”, WorldRugby.org, 6 April, 2018.
^ “Fiji suspended from 2010 Commonwealth Games”, Herald Sun, Julie Tullberg, October 12, 2009.
^ “Fiji drops Games boycott threat”, news.com.au, March 27, 2014.
^ “Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal”, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016.
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ WorldRugby.org
^ WorldRugby.org
External links
- Official website
- WorldRugby profile