The Fiji Times

Fijian secures world rugby series spot

THE Fijiana 7s side has secured a place in the 2020 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series for next season. They won the fourth Challenge Trophy in a row with their 27-10 win over England in the Biarritz 7s final but also secured their place as a core team. Fiji finished 10th on the table,...

Radradra 7s: 24 teams compete on first day; Day one results

TWENTY-four teams competed on the first day of the inaugural Radradra 7s tournament and about 800 spectators gathered to witness four under-20 matches and eight senior men’s teams open the much-anticipated event on Taveuni. Tournament director Sakiasi Veitogavi said the excitement had just begun as they expected more crowd in the next two days. “Today’s...

Nabuli inspires locals

FORMER Wallabies winger Etonia Nabuli said the Radradra 7s tournament would help local players understand that rugby was a career path. The Boardeux Begles Club player in France said rugby in Fiji had always been played with the mentality of winning and he hoped that local players could see the sport as a career they...

Radradra 7s: More spectators expected; First day results

THE first day of the Radradra rugby sevens tournament ignited a flare of interest for the people of Taveuni and more spectators are expected to be part of the tournament tomorrow. Tournament director Sakiasi Veitogavi said the excitement had just begun as they expect more people over the next two days. “Today’s games were just...

All Black’s Smith recovers just in time for Highlanders

ALL Blacks fullback Ben Smith has recovered just in time for the Highlanders and has been named to start for Friday’s quarter-final clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch, TVNZ reports. It reported that Smith had been sidelined since May 4 when he injured his leg and although it was hoped he would play in last...

Radradra 7s: Former Fiji playmaker confident in local talents

FORMER Flying Fijian fullback Metuisela Talebula is confident that some local talents that will be displayed at the Radradra rugby 7s tournament have more to offer for Fiji rugby and the world. Speaking from experience, the former Fiji 7s playmaker wants to see players rise to stardom and look back at the Radradra tournament as a...

Coach Baber to scout at Radradra 7s tournament

FIJI Airways Fiji 7s team coach Gareth Baber will be at the Radradra rugby 7s tournament that kicked off in Taveuni on Vanua Levu today. Tournament media and marketing officer James Vunituraga confirmed with The Fiji Times that Baber will be at the tournament on Friday and Saturday. Not only the Welshman will meet some...

State of Origin: Teams from Ba Province to clash in Vanua Cup final

THE Vodafone Vanua Cup final between Lautoka and Yasawa at Prince Charles Park in Nadi this Saturday is likened to the Australia Rugby League State of Origin series. The two teams from the Ba Province are a close-knit family however on the field they are fierce rivals. Yasawa created history last Saturday after overcoming Ovalau...

10,000-plus spectators expected at inaugural Radradra 7s

MORE than 10,000 spectators in Taveuni and the nearby islands are expected to come and witness the Radradra 7s which has attracted more overseas-based local reps than any other local tournament. The inaugural Radradra rugby sevens tournament organisers are locked and loaded to run one of the much-anticipated local tournament renowned across the country at...

Investec Super Rugby: Brumbies star announces his retirement

BRUMBIES star Christian Lealiifano will retire from Super Rugby at the end of the season, taking up a lucrative offer to play in Japan that was “too hard to turn down”. According to ABC News the 31-year-old’s decision to say sayonara to the club after 12 years and 148 matches came less than two years...

Radradra 7s: Teams, overseas based players arrive in Taveuni

TEAMS and players that are gearing up for the inaugural Radradra rugby 7s tournament has arrived at Taveuni Island this afternoon. More than 10 teams from Viti Levu arrived at the Garden Island of Fiji with some renowned overseas based players and national reps such as Fiji Airways Fiji 7s winger Aminiasi Tuimaba, Terio...

Radradra 7s: France based Nabuli support for grassroots rugby in Fiji

FRANCE based rugby player Eto Nabuli is looking forward to be part of the inaugural Radradra rugby sevens tournament in Taveuni this week. The Boardeux Begles winger wants to be part of Semi Radradra’s quest of developing grassroots rugby in the island. “It’s all about giving back to my country through rugby development and I...

World Rugby U20 Championship: Georgia defeats Fiji in 9th place playoff

THE Vodafone Fiji U20 side suffered a shock 12-8 defeat at the hands of Georgia in the 9th place playoff match at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina this morning. Fiji led 5-nil at half-time and increased the lead to 8-nil in the second spell. Georgia scored two tires in the last quarter of...

Sau, Nacuqu ready for Taveuni tourney

THE Sledgehammer Eroni Sau and sensational Waisea Nacuqu are keen to be part of the inaugural Radradra 7s tournament on Taveuni that will kick off tomorrow. The two top sevens players were invited by France based Flying Fijian Semi Radradra to be part of the tournament as guest players in one of the local-based teams....

Cup champion to miss 11 players in the final match

SKIPPER Cup defending champions QaQa Suva has received an early blow ahead of the grand final with eleven of its players being called away into the Swire Shipping Fijian Latui squad. Eroni Mawi, Mesu Dolokoto, Luke Tagi, Mateo Qolisese, Peni Naulago, Tevita Naqali, Filimoni Seru, Elia Canakaivata, Peni Raidre, John Stewart and Enele Malele who...

Investec Super Rugby: Reece crowned Rookie of the Year

SEVU Reece has been crowned the Investec Super Rugby rookie of the year. Reece scooped the rookie of the year despite not playing in the final round clinging onto his lead of 19 points over Tom Robinson who managed 17 points. According to Super Rugby, it really was a two-horse race between Reece and Robinson...

Fiji U20 to face Georgia next

THE Vodafone Fiji Under-20 side faces Georgia in a crucial World Rugby U20 Championship 9th place-semi-final tomorrow. A win will secure Fiji a spot in next year’s tournament. The loser of the match will compete in the 11th and 12th place playoff with the loser of that match getting relegated. Fiji plays Georgia at 4am...

Devil is behind children under 16 seeking gender transitioning: Folau

RUGBY star Israel Folau has continued to criticise homosexuals while also targeting youths undergoing gender treatment during a sermon at his Sydney church on Sunday. The Daily Telegraph claims the axed Wallabies and Waratahs player delivered a sermon at his father’s church on Sunday in which he said the devil is behind children under 16...

Fijiana wins Challenge Trophy in France

THE Fiji Airways Fijiana side beat England 27-10 to not only win a fourth Challenge Trophy in a row but also secured their place as a core team on the 2020 series in the process at the HSBC France Women’s Sevens this morning. Celia Quansah scored the first of her two tries to open the...

Tagi gets surprise call for national duty

QAQA Suva rugby prop forward and Flying Fijians latest inclusion Luke Tagi was surprised when he was relayed the news that coach John McKee had included him in the 48 member squad for the Maori All Blacks and Pacific Nations Cup beginning next month. “I was shocked when I received the news and thought it...

Waqaniburotu to captain the Flying Fijians again

FLYING Fijians head coach John McKee has chosen France-based Brive utility forward Dominiko Waqaniburotu once again to captain the Flying Fijian side after a successful outing during the autumn tour test matches last year. “Waqaniburotu certainly led by example during the November tour last year. I think his leadership was instrumental in helping the team to...

Fijiana winless in France

THE Fijiana Fiji Airways team lost all their pool games at the HSBC France Women’s Sevens in Biarritz, France. The Fijian side is pooled with USA, France and China in Pool C. France gave the home crowd plenty all the reasons to cheer with a 29-0 victory over Fiji with Carla Neisen scoring a double...

Champion makes cup final

DEFENDING champion QaQa Suva marched on to the 2019 Skipper Cup final after beating a determined Jack’s Nadi outfit 39-15 at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday. Suva coach Solo Nute said it was another milestone as the Capital City side now look forward to keeping the Skipper Cup title in Suva another year. “We...

Nadroga three in the final

IT’S Nadroga all the way to the finals of the Skipper Cup competition as the Nadroga women’s, under-19 and men’s team defeated their opponents in the semi-finals at Lawaqa Park yesterday. Nadroga senior team edged Naitasiri 33-31 after a strong comeback from Naitasiri in the second half after they trailed 26-12 at the halftime break....

SGS stops Marist late charge in the U17 clash

SUVA Grammar School under-17 rugby team held off a late charge from Marist Brothers High School to remain top of their pool beating them 28-21 during the Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Super Deans Championship Southern Zone yesterday at Suva Grammar School grounds in Nasese. Team manager Isikeli Senibulu said it was a hard...

O’Connor praises officials

THE Vodafone Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Union Southern Zone Super Deans Championship competition was launched yesterday with the presence of the chief executive officer of Fiji Rugby Union John O’Connor, sponsors and executives of the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby Southern Zone committee. The Deans trophy southern zone competition features schools from around the Suva area...

Skipper Cup: Stallions edges Naitasiri 33-31

NADROGA rugby team defeated Naitasiri 33-31 in a close encounter at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. Both teams scored five tries each but conversions made the difference. Nadroga led 26-12 in the half time break but Naitasiri came back strong in the second half but were unfortunate in the last few minutes giving away a penalty...

Kaji Rugby: SMPS books semifinal spot after defeating Marist

THE Under-10 Suva Methodist Primary School rugby team booked their spot in the semifinals beating Marist Brothers Primary School 47-0 during the Suva Primary Schools Kaji Rugby competition today at St Marcellin Primary School grounds in Vatuwaqa. SMPS coach Rupeni Madigi said it was a special win having lost to Marist in last year’s U9...

Captains ready for season finale at HSBC France Women’s Sevens

THE 12 captains of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series convened on the picturesque coastline of the South of France ahead of the HSBC France Women’s Sevens, taking place in Biarritz on 15-16 June. The 12 captains came together ahead of the HSBC France Women’s Sevens for the sixth and final round of the...

Rugby

Baber to scout new players at Radradra 7s