The Fiji Times

All Black Scott Barrett sought mental skills and tackle technique advice after high-shot ban

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett says he took advice from the All Blacks’ mental skills experts and worked on his tackling technique during a “long three weeks’’ ban. Barrett – who will lead the Crusaders from blindside flanker against the Fijian Drua on Friday night – was suspended after a red card for high shot on Blues...

Super Rugby Pacific teams: Highlanders keep Sam Gilbert at 10, Ioanes out for Blues

Crunch time is here as the business end of the competition nears. The crucial final standings on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder will be determined in the next two weeks, and the Kiwi teams can’t afford any slip-ups this weekend. Round 14 starts with the Crusaders-Fijian Drua game in Christchurch on Friday, and concludes with...

Denelanagi out for remainder of season, more changes for Drua

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Head Coach Mick Byrne has announced his line-up for big clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch this Friday. Missing from the line-up will be recent team captain Meli Derenalagi and prop Meli Tuni, both of whom will undergo immediate surgery for ACL injury. The injuries and required rehabilitation mean both players...

Super W win to aid rugby growth

The chairwoman of Australia’s sports diplomacy advisory council says the achievement of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua in winning the Super W rugby title has set a platform for women’s rugby in Fiji to grow. Stephanie Brantz, who is an Australian TV sports reporter events presenter, producer and commentator spoke highly of the Fijiana Drua’s...

Drua after good results

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will work on different patterns of play in order to overcome the might of the Crusaders at the Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand this Friday. The Fijian Drua have a short turnaround period having played the Moana Pasifika in Sydney, Australia last Sunday. The side travelled back to its...

Uluinasau among stars

Fijiana star Reapi Uluinasau is one of seven players named by World Rugby to watch during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Toulouse, France this weekend. The 27-year-old is named among 7s stars Michaela Blyde of New Zealand, Australia’s standout performer Charlotte Caslick, Brazilian speedster Thalia Costa, USA forward Ilona Maher, the most...

Fijiana duo on a mission

Fijiana 15s players Vika Matarugu and Joana Sauto have one mission – and that is to represent Fiji at the upcoming Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in New Zealand. The two were spotted in Labasa on Monday returning to their families on Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Matarugu and Sauto have been away in Australia with the...

Family motivates star – Nate’s reason for playing

Having her family support is a big boost for Asinate Serevi and for that she is grateful. Nate as she is commonly called, is the daughter of World Rugby Hall of Fame legend Waisale Serevi. The Qarani, Gau lass was named in the 32-member Rooster Chicken Fijiana 15s squad for the two Test matches against...

Matera keeps Argentine flag flying in Super Rugby

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Los Jaguares might be a fading memory from the intercontinental Super Rugby competition buried by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pablo Matera is delivering weekly reminders of the quality of Argentine rugby in the new Pacific-oriented version. The former Pumas skipper played his best game in the red shirt of the Canterbury Crusaders...

Nale savours rugby calling

Former Marist Brothers High School student Jerome Nale has been named in the USA Eagles side for the Toulouse 7s this weekend. Coach Mike Friday announced a mixed lineup of experienced campaigners and youngsters with the 22 year-old Vadravadra, Ba lad in the side. He was part of the Eagles squad earlier in the series...

Cakobau Park work yet to be completed

Works at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori is not complete yet, Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar said while speaking during the opening of the 143rd Girmit carnival in Nausori . She said other pavilions at the park needed to be fixed. She said the park was closed due to damage caused by tropical...

Fiji 7s gives back

The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s squad members will engage in more community work in a bid to give back to the community. Last week, the national team took time out from their hectic training schedule to do some community work in Sigatoka. The players were present at the Sigatoka hospital to where they dismantled some...

7s oomph! – Kunatani, Bolaca to boost confidence levels

Fiji Airways Fiji 7s skipper Tevita Daugunu expects the inclusion of Semi Kunatani and Napolioni Bolaca to boost the confidence level of the players for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Toulouse and London. Kunatani marks his return in the abbreviated code after a lapse of five years while Bolaca has been drafted...

‘Write your names on stone’

Fijian Drua captain Meli Derenalagi told his players to write their names on stones and not on sand when they faced the Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific last Saturday. Derenalagi said the match was a historic one and the players were reminded of the stakes. “I just motivated them and tried to tell them...

Special day for Pacific

The historical clash between two of the newest Super Rugby Pacific teams, the Fijian Drua and the Moana Pasifika will be cherished by those who were part of it. The Drua beat the Moana Pasifika 34-19 on Saturday night. Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said it was a special day for everyone. “It...

Short turn around time for next game

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will have a short turn around before they face the mighty Crusaders in its next match in the Super Rugby Pacific this week. Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said the Crusaders would have followed the Drua’s match against Moana Pasifika last Saturday. “It’s a short turn around and you...

Boys were hungry for win, says Derenalagi

The 67-5 loss to the Hurricanes last week was a turning point for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side. Team captain Meli Derenalagi said the loss inspired him team to come out stronger against the Moana Pasifika. “The boys were hungry for this game because of the upset last week, so this few days that...

Skipper Cup: Midfield combo wins for Tailevu

The Tailevu midfield combination of Poasa Domonakibau and Adriu Nayaga stood out for the home side in their 17-12 victory over Northland in the Skipper Cup round 7 local derby at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday. Coach Samisoni Baikeitoga said in his line-up, he had Domonakibau come in the second half. “Poasa is one of our key...

Pacific battle: Fijian Drua scores big win

The Swire Shipping-sponsored Fijian Drua team travels to New Zealand this week with heads held high after scoring their second victory in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition yesterday. They will meet 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa champion Crusaders in Christchurch this week after a clinical 34-19 historic win against fellow debutante Moana Pasifika at the CommBank...

Skipper Cup: Nadroga defeats Namosi; hosts Suva next weekend

The Nadroga rugby side beat Namosi 32-29 in the Skipper Cup competition at Thomson Park in Navua today. Nadroga scored four first-half tries to Namosi’s one to lead 25-5 at the break. It was all Namosi in the first 35 minutes of the second spell as they dominated all facets of play. Four unanswered second-half...

Fijian Drua looks for new CEO

The Fijian Drua has advertised for the position of chief executive officer (CEO). A statement from the club said the search for the new CEO would be conducted by independent executive search firm Odgers Berndston. It stated the potential candidate would lead the club to newer heights and position it as one of the most...

Former Samoa sevens star Kelly Meafua died from drowning after jumping into river

Former Samoa sevens international Kelly Meafua died from drowning after jumping into a river after his team’s celebrations in the French town of Montauban, an autopsy has revealed. Meafua died, aged 31, last Saturday (NZ time) after jumping off a bridge following Montauban’s 48-40 win over Narbonne in their final home match in French rugby’s Pro D2, the...

Rugby

Black Ferns forced to tweak Pacific Four squad