Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Fiji
Logo Fiji Rugby.svg
Union Fiji Rugby Union
Coach(es) Ben Ryan
Captain(s) Osea Kolinisau
Team kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances 4 (First in 1993)
Best result Champions, 1997, 2005

The Fiji national rugby sevens team is one of the most popular and successful rugby sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record twelve times since its 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). The Fiji national rugby union sevens team is currently the reigning World Rugby Sevens Series Champions in World Rugby and will feature in the Rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics in 2016.

History

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

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 horrific. 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.

Waisale Serevi is highly regarded as the best player ever in sevens rugby. Nicknamed the "maestro", played in this side from 1989 to 2006 leading them to countless tournament victories, two Sevens World Cup in 1997 and 2005. He also coached/played in the side from 2005-2007 guiding Fiji to their first World Sevens Series title in the 2005/2006 season.

Tournament history

Summer Olympics

Olympics Games record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
Brazil 2016 Qualifed
Total 0 Titles 1/1 - - - -

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Fiji has twice won the Rugby World Cup Sevens — first in 1997, and again in 2005.

World Cup Sevens record
Year Round Position Played Won Lost Drew
Scotland 1993 Semi Finalists 3rd 9 7 2 0
Hong Kong 1997 Winners 1st 7 7 0 0
Argentina 2001 Semi Finalists 3rd 7 6 1 0
Hong Kong 2005 Winners 1st 8 8 0 0
United Arab Emirates 2009 Quarterfinals 5th 4 3 1 0
Russia 2013 Third Place 3rd 6 4 2 0
United States 2018 Qualified
Total 2 Titles 6/6 41 35 6 0

Honours

Current Squad

Travelling

  • Alivereti Veitokani
  • Nemani Nagusa

Pacific Games

Squad to 2015 Pacific Games:[1]

  • Manueli Lagai
  • Sitiveni Waqa
  • Jasa Veremalua
  • Isake Katonibau
  • Viliame Mata
  • Emosi Mulevoro
  • Kitione Dawai
  • Amenoni Nasilasila
  • Keponi Paul
  • Vatemo Ravouvou
  • Abele Atunaisa
  • Savenaca Rawaca

Former players

  • Apenisa Valesu
  • Isikeli Ratulevu
  • Levi Tamaivena
  • Watekini Vunisa
  • Joseva Vunisa
  • Setareki Tawake
  • Joeli Vidiri
  • Aisea Tuilevu
  • Samisoni Rabaka

Coaches

  • Ben Ryan (Head Coach)
  • Waisale Serevi
  • Manasa Bari
  • Ratu Kitione Vesikula
  • Alifereti Dere
  • Pauliasi Tabulutu
  • Rupeni Ravonu
  • Alifereti Cawanibuka
  • Timoci Wainiqolo
  • Tomasi Cama
  • Senivalati Laulau

See also

References

  • McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)
  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.