Flying Fijians

Fijian international set to make Edinburgh debut as Cockerill tests squad depth

The inclusion of the 13-times capped Fijian tighthead is one of seven changes made by Head Coach Richard Cockerill following last weekend’s road win against Conference B rivals Scarlets.

With 23 first team players unavailable due to injury or international selection, Head Coach Richard Cockerill once again gives youth an opportunity, with seven academy or first-year pro players named in the matchday 23.

Three Fiji rugby players test positive for Covid-19

The Fiji Rugby Union confirmed that all players underwent a coronavirus test after arriving at their camp in Limoges, in southwest-central France.

Three members of the Flying Fijians entourage tested positive for early Covid symptoms and are now in isolation.

Three other players are in isolation at their homes in accordance with French government and club protocols.

In a statement, the FRU said none of the affected squad members are showing any Covid-19 symptoms as they await the second round of testing and are being monitored daily.

Rugby's Nations Cup under threat after reports Fiji players have Covid

Rugby Pass reported that between five and seven Fiji players tested positive at their training base in France where they will be for the next two weeks.

Coach Vern Cotter, assistant coach Glen Jackson and seven players of the squad were involved in the Barbarians match preparations to face England which saw the game cancelled after 13 players left the team "bubble"

Those players were awaiting a hearing with possible bans and fines likely, but the seven Fiji players were said to have followed protocols.

Cotter calls in 7 of his Flying Fijians to bolster Barbarians squad for England clash

Barbarians coach Vern Cotter has drafted in seven of his Fiji players who will link up with the rest of the Pacific Islands nations squad for the Autumn international series after the Twickenham match, which takes place just 24 hours after the Gallagher Premiership play-off final between Wasps and Heineken Champions Cup winners Exeter.

Saracens are supplying 11 players, headed by ex-England scrum half Richard Wigglesworth and Scotland wing Sean Maitland.

Flying Fijians coaching team confirmed

Former New South Wales Waratahs head coach Daryl Gibson, current Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan and former test referee Glen Jackson have signed on to help their Kiwi compatriot, while breakdown specialist Richie Gray previously worked with Cotter during his time in charge of Scotland and Montpellier.

Fiji skipper Dominiko Waqaniburotu left looking for a new club

The 34-year-old hooked up with the Top 14 club on a one-season deal following the 2019 World Cup in Japan, but he has not had the best of times, making just four league appearances (and one in the Challenge Cup) in an injury-hit campaign that was officially terminated on Thursday by French officials due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

11 debutants in Fiji squad to face Barbarians

Manawatu prop Samuela Tawake, Northland lock Temo Mayanavanua, Queensland Reds first five Teti Tela and Fijian Drua outside backs Jiuta Wainiqolo and Enele Malele have been selected in the starting fifteen, which includes eight members of the Fijian Drua team that reached the semi finals of the Australian National Rugby Championship.

Another Five Drua players are poised to make their international debut off the bench at Twickenham, along with Edinburgh flanker and former Fiji sevens star Mesulame Kunavula.

Sam Matavesi in social media plea after his Fijian World Cup kit is stolen in London car park theft

The hooker, who plays for Cornish Pirates in the English Championship, started for the Fijians in their matches versus Australia, Georgia and Wales and came off the bench in their other pool game versus Uruguay at the finals in Japan. 

It capped an incredible year so far for Matavesi, who also featured for Toulouse this year as a short-term medical cover signing towards the end of the Top 14 season. 

However, the 27-year-old has now taken to social media in the hope that some treasured possessions collected in Japan can be returned to him. 

'We will certainly use 2007 as a reference point... history can inspire us'

McKee’s team end their group campaign against Wales, having beaten Georgia, but lost to Uruguay and Australia. “There is a lot at stake for Wales, and they want to finish top of the pool in their passage to the play-offs (quarter-finals),” Fiji head coach McKee said.

“For us, it’s an opportunity. We know what a good team Wales are and what a challenge playing them will be. One thing with Wales and the strength of their team is that they have a number of options. They don’t play one way.

Fiji not looking past Wales

Victory would ensure automatic qualification for the next World Cup and also keep alive their faint hopes of advancing to the quarter finals.

But coach John McKee said they're not looking beyond the 80 minutes on the field at Oita Stadium.

"The players are very much focused on their performance in the game because, as players and as a team, what we can control is how we perform," McKee said.

"We look for our top performance and, if we can put in our top performance, then those other things look after themselves."