The Fiji Times

Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua defeats Melbourne Rebels on home ground

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side defeated the Melbourne Rebels 38-28 in a Super Rugby Pacific encounter at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this afternoon. It was a good first half performance from the home side which gave them the victory. Ilaisa Droasese, Selestino Ravutaumada, Vilive Miramira, Iosefo Masi and Kitione Salawa scored a...

2023 Hong Kong 7s: Fiji books place in quarter-finals

The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side booked a place in the quarter-finals after beating Canada 40-7 during the Hong Kong 7s tournament. The side led 26-0 in the first half. Tries were scored by Joseva Talacolo, two to Iowane Teba, Waisea Nacuqu, Manueli Maisamoa, and Viwa Naduvalo. The side beat Samoa 12-7 yesterday and faces...

Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua lead Melbourne Rebels at half time

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side leads the Melbourne Rebels 33-7 at half time in their Super Rugby Pacific encounter at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Ilaisa Droasese, Selestino Ravutaumada, Vilive Miramira, Iosefo Masi and Kitione Salawa scored a try each for the Drua in the first spell. Flyhalf Teti Tela converted four of...

Super Rugby Pacific: Stage set for Drua-Rebels match in Suva

The stage is set for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua versus Melbourne Rebels match at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The Mick Byrne-coached Drua team go into the match with 1-4 win-loss record while the Rebels are in hit form after wins over the Waratahs and Reds. The match kicks off at 3.35pm. Drua...

Super W: Fijiana Drua defeats strong Melbourne Rebels side

The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua ran in seven tries to score their second win in their Super W title defence after beating the Melbourne Rebels 39-12 at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The Inoke Male-coached side crossed scored five tries – two to Vitalina Naikore, flyhalf Ani Mei, centre Vani Arei and winger Milinia...

Super Rugby Pacific: Lomani out, Matawalu to start

There has been a last minute change for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side to take on the Melbourne Rebels in Suva later today. Halfback Frank Lomani who was to play in his 40th Super Rugby match has been ruled out due to injury. Peni Matawalu will start at number nine while 18-year-old Philip Baselala...

Super Rugby Pacific: Baselala to debut for Fijian Drua

Eighteen-year-old Philip Baselala will be making his debut from the bench for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua when they take on the Melbourne Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium this afternoon. This comes after former Flying Fijian Frank Lomani was being ruled out because of a current injury. Starting at halfback is Peni Matawalu.

HK 7s: Fijiana lose last pool match, faces USA in quarters

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s lost its last pool match 35-5 against Australia at the Hong Kong 7s tournament. Lavena Cavuru scored the lone try for the Fijiana side in the second spell. The Saisa Fuli coached side trailed 21-nil at half-time. Fiji had earlier defeated Brazil and Ireland in their pool games. They will...

Draiba students’ treat: Drua and Rebels visit school

Students of Draiba Primary School in Suva received a treat when they were visited by members of the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and Melbourne Rebels side yesterday. Members of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua side also accompanied both teams to the event which was hosted by the Australian Embassy. Fiji Rugby Union acting CEO Sale...

Super W: Fijiana Drua leads Rebels at half time

Fans and supporters of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua and Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side are quickly showing up in numbers to the HFC Stadium as both sides takes on the Melbourne Rebels. Kicking start ar 1.05 pm this afternoon, the Fijiana Drua side has managed to prevent the visitors from scoring a single try,...

Suva women ruggers on a look-out

The FMF Suva women’s rugby team faces a mammoth task when they take on Nadroga today in round two of the ANZ Marama Cup competition at Albert Park. Team manager Ana Tuivanuavonu says the defending champions will approach every game as a final and will not underestimate any teams in the competition. Suva met Nadroga...

Tawake banks on 16th player

Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua skipper Bitila Tawake says their fans and supporters play a huge role in the hype of the match, as they will also be facing the Rebels women’s side this afternoon. “Our fans play an important role in motivating the girls during the game and we are calling out to you to...

Super Rugby Pacific: Baselala optimistic; team well prepared

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team is ready to play against the Melbourne Rebels team, says 18-year-old high school sensation Philip Baselala. Baselala is one of the youngest players to sign a full Super Rugby Pacific contract after he was awarded the full-time contract with the Fijian Drua early this year. The team was out...

Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua ready for war

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi says he and his team are ready to put their body on the line for Fiji as they take on the Melbourne Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva this afternoon. Derenalagai says they have been able to pick out the areas where they lacked in their...

2023 Hong Kong 7s: Naimasi to lead Fijiana

Ana Naimasi will be leading the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team into the World Rugby Sevens Series in Hong Kong this weekend. The 25-year-old said she was honoured to lead a group of young talented women in their quest of making their island nation proud. “This is actually the first time for me to take...

Super Rugby Pacific: Dolokoto vows to give his best at home games

For Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Mesulame Dolokoto, playing at home has always been the biggest privilege throughout his rugby career. The Fijian Drua will be looking to bounce back from a 57-24 loss against the Highlanders last weekend, when they take on the Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva tomorrow. The Cakaudrove...

2023 Hong Kong 7s: Historic returns for Fijiana 7s

Today marks a historic occasion for the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side as it will be their first time at the Hong Kong 7s under the women’s world sevens series. Hong Kong has always been considered the pinnacle of 7s tournaments on the series and the last the Fijian women ran onto the turf at...

Fijian Drua confirms official transport provider

Nadi-based tourism transport operator Tewaka has been appointed as the official transport provider for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team for the 2023 season. Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans said Tewaka was a respected Fijian brand and transport operator and they were pleased to partner with them for the second consecutive year. “The Fijian Drua...

Master trainer Kelly conducts coaching clinics in Fiji

World Rugby coaches master trainer Richard Kelly is in Fiji conducting level three coaching assessments for some local coaches. Travelling from New Zealand, Kelly was invited by Oceania Rugby to conduct the assessment and is being hosted by the Fiji Rugby Union. “I’ve been doing this work for a very long time, and I’ve always...

Defence the word from coach Gollings

Defence will be a key word used by Ben Gollings this weekend as the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side looks to return to the winner’s podium starting this weekend with the Hong Kong 7s tournament. Having failed to win in Hong Kong last November and at the past six events on the HSBC World Rugby...

Fijiana’s Naikore out to score tries

Vitalina Naikore is back and ready to do what she loves best – beating tacklers and scoring freakish tries. The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua winger was back in camp this week after completing a 10-week recruit course with the Fiji Correction Service. The 22-year-old was a key member of the Fijiana Drua last season with...

Super Rugby Pacific: Sau makes run-on side

Hard-hitting Swire Shipping Fijian Drua flyer Eroni Sau will start on the wing against the Melbourne Rebels tomorrow after he was named in the starting 15 by head coach Mick Bryne. Sau is making a return to the matchday 23 after completing 12 days of Head Injury Assessment (HIA). The explosive Flying Fijians winger left...

Back after 20 years: Fijiana returns to Hong Kong

After 20 years, the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side will run on to the turf at So Kon Po Stadium to battle it out against the world’s best in Hong Kong this weekend. But there is more than just winning on their minds as they take on Brazil, Australia and Ireland in their pool games,...

Countries in stronger position should help others with debt woes -IMF chief

BOAO, China (Reuters) – Countries in a relatively stronger position should help vulnerable nations especially those under debt distress, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday. The IMF chief said such assistance would be particularly important against the backdrop of high interest rates and currency depreciation. “We urgently need faster and more...

Byrne: Fijian Drua players owning up to disappointing loss to Highlanders

The players are “owning up” to their disappointing loss against the Highlanders last Saturday. This was highlighted by Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne during a media conference yesterday. The Dunedin-based side ran in nine tries, while the Drua in comparison only managed to score four tries with the Highlanders winning the match...

Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua in for a big battle

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne said they are in for a mouth-watering clash this Saturday against the Melbourne Rebels, a team they had played more than any other teams in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Before their game on Saturday, the Drua faced the Rebels outfit four times, having played two pre-season...

Factors behind starting 15

“I do not think ever.” This was response from Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne when queried whether after five rounds of the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition he had found his best starting 15. “We got an idea of our playing group for sure but I do not think,...

Naevo raises rugby safety

The mother of the late Pasikali Naevo, Jessica Naevo, is adamant on spreading awareness on the safety of young rugby players around Fiji to prevent further incidents as such from occurring. Pasikali passed away on February 26 after collapsing during a training session with the national under-20 side in Nadi. He played as a forward...

Fijiana Drua Rubuti takes a lead role

Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua forward Joma Rubuti says debutants in the squad will need more game time and experience to get use to the level of competition in Super Rugby. The 25-year-old was part of the Fijiana Drua side that shocked women’s rugby by winning the Super W title in their debut season, after cruising...

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