Fiji rugby

Autumn Nations Cup organisers working desperately to save fixtures after Fiji squad Covid-19 outbreak

It is understood that between five and seven Fiji players tested positive at their training base in Limoges where they will be for the next two weeks. Fiji were scheduled to play Portugal in a warm-up game on November 6 but this has been shelved.

Fiji’s first match in the Autumn Nations Cup is against France on 15 November followed by Italy on 21 November before travelling to Murrayfield to play Scotland in the final round on the 28 November.

Family affair for new Fiji rugby prop Haereiti Hetet

The 23 year old loosehead is the son of Fijian front-row legend Joeli Veitayaki, who played 49 tests for Fiji between 1994 and 2003.

Hetet was born and raised in New Zealand but said it had always been a childhood goal to play for Fiji.

"Growing up I always supported Fiji, just because it was a part of me, and watching them play every game they play - whether it's rugby or other sports I would always back them," he said.

"It's just like being a Kiwi and backing every New Zealander."

Fiji's Vern Cotter to coach Barbarians rugby team

The former Scotland head coach will be joined by one his Fiji assistant coaches, former test referee Glen Jackson, for the Quilter Cup clash at Twickenham on 25 October.

"I'm hugely excited and honoured to be taking the reins for the Barbarians' match against England later this month," said Cotter.

"It is a big moment in a rugby career to be involved with this famous club. It's going to be a different experience given the global situation, but it's important to get international rugby back on track and significant we are able to come together for this fixture."

Fiji rugby team ready for 'once in a lifetime opportunity'

The Flying Fijians will take on France, Italy and Scotland in Group A, with England, Ireland, Wales and Georgia to contest Group B.

The final round will be a series of crossover matches against the team with the equivalent placing in the opposite pool.

Fiji have not played four consecutive tests against tier one countries in the professional era and CEO, John O'Connor, said their participation would be a historic milestone.

"It will be a challenge for the boys but you know we have been crying over [wanting] more test matches against tier one for so long," he said.

Outrage in Fiji as rapist trains with rugby club while serving sentence

Amenoni Nasilasila was sentenced to eight years in September for the 2018 rape of a young woman.

Last week, the 26-year-old Olympic gold medallist was reportedly seen training with the Namosi rugby teams in Suva.

But women's rights groups say the preferential treatment of high-profile prisoners has to stop.

Shamima Ali, of the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre, said the fact that Nasilasila's non-parole period was six years also highlighted the complete disregard by the department to allow him to participate in training with the Prisons and Namosi rugby teams.

Fiji Rugby launch first ever women's academy

The Fijiana XVs qualified for their first World Cup appearance in December after winning the Oceania qualifying tournament in Lautoka.

Prop Lailanie Burnes said the new academy will boost the team's confidence heading into next year.

"This is something that we've been really dreaming about for such a long time and especially some of us senior girls who have come through over the years," she said.

The Top 14's latest Fiji signings in talks to keep Olympic 7s dream alive

Tuimaba has signed for Pau while Botitu is now a Castres player and they have been given dispensation by the Fiji Rugby Union to take up their professional contracts in France due to the postponement of the Games which should have take place this summer but the worldwide coronavirus pandemic has forced a delay of twelve months. 

There are four remaining legs of this year’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series – Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Paris – and a decision about the feasibility of international travel to those legs will be made shortly.

Baber's future with Fiji Sevens team uncertain

Last month Fiji Rugby announced they were cutting costs to manage the financial fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure its long term sustainability.

Baber's four-year contract is due to end in January.

Fiji Sports Commission Chairman Peter Mazey told FBC news that a contract extension is dependent on funding from the government.

Meanwhile, if given the green light, the Fiji Rugby Union has marked 11 July as the proposed date for local rugby competitions to kick-off.

Premiership player's family home in Fiji decimated by Cyclone Harold

The cyclone caused catastrophic harm with dozens killed and many left homeless, including the parents of Tuisue, the back row who gave up a career as a police officer to come to London in 2019.

The 26-year-old, who has been capped seven times by his country, has become an integral part of Declan Kidney’s team, appearing in all 13 of Irish’s Premiership matches so far this season. 

In an appeal promoted on the club’s website, Tuisue explained: “This is the strongest cyclone there has been with winds up to 225km per hour and the impact has been disastrous. 

Fiji sports grounds escape major damage

The Chief Operations Officer for the Fiji Sports Council, John Pickering, said Lawaqa Park, about a 70 minute drive south from Nadi, felt the brunt of the cyclone, compared with their other facilities, although the playing surfaces remains unscathed.

"[At] Lawaqa Park we had a whole fence fall to the ground. There was also damage, slight damage to one of our vehicles that was parked in Lawaqa Park," he said.