The Fiji Times

Ranitu: We need to be ruthless

‘We need to be ruthless in defense’. This according to Lautoka Maroons head coach Peniona Ranitu ahead of the Nivea Vanua Trophy Challenge against Rewa tomorrow at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. The Maroons left it right till the last minute in securing their win last weekend against Northland, and are aware that Rewa would execute...

Rewa anticipates a tough game against Lautoka

Rewa is anticipating a tough physical clash against defending Vanua Trophy Challenge trophy holders Lautoka this Saturday at Lawaqa Park. “We know that Lautoka is a very strong team as we had already played against them in the semi-finals of the Vanua Championship,” Rewa Rugby Union club games chairman Joji Daurewa said. He said they...

NZ women’s 7s team eager to shine in Suva

The New Zealand women’s national 7s team will be the team to watch out for in the Mini International Women’s 7s tournament that will be held in Suva. Head coach Cory Sweeney said his side was happy to be in Fiji and are anticipating an exciting competition when the mini-tournament starts today. “We just love...

Donu back for Fijiana

Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s forward Sesenieli Donu will be taking to the field today for the first time in eight months. The 27-year-old injured her right knee during the Women’s Rugby World Cup late last year. Donu is currently part of the extended Fijiana 7s side that is preparing for the Mini International Women’s tournament...

Group presents painting to team

A group of people living with disabilities in Bordeaux presented the FIJI Water Flying Fijians with a painting as a show of support towards their Rugby World Cup campaign. With the help of mural painter Mickael Dupuis, a social worker for people living with disabilities, the group was able to put together the piece with...

Players hold clinics

Several players from the FIJI Water Flying Fijians camp visited the Club de Rugby Lormont to hold clinics with more than 100 children in Bordeaux, France yesterday. Head coach Simon Raiwalui was joined by players Vilive Miramira, Iosefo Masi, Selestino Ravutaumada, Simione Kuruvoli and Zuriel Togiatama, and some of the coaching staff. The team took...

Special bond between team, hotel staff

Staff members of the Renaissance Hotel in Bordeaux have grown a liking for their guests in the FIJI Water Flying Fijians. The bond between the players/management and hotel staff is such that “things have not been the same” at the five-star property when the Fijians were away in St Etienne. The hotel has been the...

‘Opportunity to regroup’

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians are soaking in the atmosphere with time off before their next Rugby World Cup pool C match against Georgia. After a disappointing 26-32 loss to Wales in their opening game, the side bounced back to beat Australia 22-15 and keep their campaign alive. The side will face Georgia on October...

‘We want to make history’

FIJI Water Flying Fijians utility-back player Semi Radradra says the hurt of losing to Wales helped build fire in the bellies to prove they are a better team. The 26-32 loss in their 2023 Rugby World Cup match at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux was a heartbreaker for many Fijian fans and the players themselves....

Flying Fijian believes team has what it takes to bring Cup home

Makarita Savai, mother of FIJI Water Flying Fijians winger Selestino Ravutaumada believes the side has what it takes to bring the Webb Ellis Cup home. The Fijian Drua winger was in sensational form during Fiji’s win over England, one of the warm-up matches just before the World Cup. Ravutaumada, although heavily marked by the Welsh...

Portugal stack bench with forwards for Georgia match

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) -Portugal coach Patrice Lagisquet has stacked his bench with six forwards to counteract Georgia’s power up front late in the game when the familiar foes meet at the World Cup in Toulouse on Saturday. The Portuguese have played Georgia more than any other country barring neighbours Spain and Romania but have not...

Farrell, Smith and Arundell start for England against Chile

By Mitch Phillips MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) -England’s Owen Farrell will make his first appearance at the Rugby World Cup when he starts at flyhalf against Chile in Lille on Saturday with Marcus Smith at fullback and Henry Arundell on the wing as coach Steve Borthwick shuffles his resources. Farrell missed the wins over Argentina and...

Gordon set for axe as Wallabies face Welsh reckoning

By Nick Mulvenney SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Australia coach Eddie Jones looks set to abandon at least part of his gamble on youth at the World Cup by dropping flyhalf Carter Gordon for the crunch Pool C match against Wales this weekend. Jones omitted experienced playmakers Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley from his squad for...

Ireland bring in Gibson-Park for Pool B showdown with South Africa

PARIS (Reuters) – Ireland named scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park in their only change for the crunch Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with South Africa in Paris on Saturday as coach Andy Farrell selected an unchanged pack with a 5-3 split between forwards and backs on the bench. The fixture is expected to decide who finishes...

Georgia retain World Cup ambitions beyond Portugal match

SAINT-ETIENNE (Reuters) -Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili said the Lelos still have World Cup ambitions beyond beating Portugal in Toulouse on Saturday in a clash between the strongest European teams from outside the Six Nations. The match has been billed as the battle for fourth place in Pool C behind Wales, Fiji and Australia but Maisashvili...

Springboks ready for huge Ireland clash, back bench revolution

PARIS (Reuters) – South Africa’s Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with world number one side Ireland in Paris on Saturday is as big as it gets according to captain Siya Kolisi, while coach Jacques Nienaber knew their 7-1 bench “innovation” would get a negative response. Ireland are on a run of 15 straight victories...

Long road brings Leali’ifano home to Samoa at World Cup

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Cancer survivor, former Wallaby and one of the nicest people in rugby, Christian Leali’ifano’s road to the World Cup has been longer and tougher than most but the flyhalf says he is finally at home in the Manu Samoa squad. The 35-year-old is one of the beneficiaries of the 2021 eligibility...

Captain Lamaro lauds Italy’s second-half comeback against Uruguay

NICE, France (Reuters) -It was all going horribly wrong for Italy as they trailed Uruguay by 10 points at the break in their Rugby World Cup Pool A encounter on Wednesday but a halftime reckoning got them back on track before they powered to a 38-17 victory. A penalty try and yellow cards for Niccolo...

Teneti out for exposure

For New Zealand women’s rep Kelsey Teneti, this weekend’s Mini International Women’s 7s Tournament at Albert Park in Suva will be all about growth and development. The 22-year-old is part of the 19-member Black Ferns side that will compete in the tournament that will be featuring the top four teams in the HSBC World Rugby...

Coral Coast 7s to induct Norton, ‘Titch’

Legendary 7s coach Sir Gordon Tietjens will make history in January as he becomes the first coach to be inducted into the “Walk of Fame” at the McDonald’s Fiji’s Coral Coast 7s in Fiji’s ‘Rugby Town’ of Sigatoka. Joining him as an ambassador for the 2024 version of the renowned international tournament is former England...

Suva ready for Nadro

A tough battle is expected at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka this weekend as Suva challenges Nadroga in the INKK Mobile Farebrother Trophy. The Stallions, which successfully defended the trophy against Naitasiri last weekend, will be hosting the Capital Cityside. Suva head coach Solomone Nute said the side would be working on its set pieces. “We...

Little: Win was beautiful

“The win was beautiful”. That was how a visibly emotional former Flying Fijian fly-half Nicky Little described Fiji’s historic win against Australia during an ITV Rugby World Cup podcast with David Flatman. “I was at home, and I watched it with my wife and kids,” Little said. The 71-test veteran said the Simon Raiwalui-coached side...

Droasese ‘a very hardworking player’

From being a promising soccer striker in the Fiji primary school’s football competition to earning a spot as a fullback for the FIJI Water Flying Fijians, Ilaisa Droasese has come a long way. Before making a name for himself in rugby, Droasese was a crafty and skillful striker at age-grade, according to his former under-14...

‘We are proud’ | Achievement pleases dad

“We are proud of his achievement.” These were the words of Isikeli Ratulevu, father of Flying Fijians utility back Josua Tuisova. Tuisova was named man of the match in Fiji’s historic win against the Wallabies. Ratulevu said they communicated with Tuisova early Tuesday and told him how proud they were of his achievements. “He played...

Cheika wants discipline not magic from Pumas against Samoa

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) -Argentina coach Michael Cheika said he was not looking for anything magical from his Pumas team when they try to get their World Cup campaign back on track against Samoa on Friday. The Australian said the players had learned a lot from their opening 27-10 loss to 14-man England in Marseilles and...

Ireland won’t change plans for forward-heavy Springboks

(Reuters) – Ireland won’t change their plans after South Africa selected seven forwards on their bench for the Rugby World Cup Pool B showdown on Saturday and believe they have enough to counter the Springboks’ muscle, assistant coach Simon Easterby said. South Africa used seven forwards off the bench to great effect when they inflicted...

Uruguayan dreams dashed by Italian comeback

NICE, France (Reuters) – Uruguay said they had “dreamed big” about their World Cup clash with Italy and for 40 minutes on Wednesday it looked as if they might come true, only for a 17-7 lead to flip into a 38-17 defeat as their fitness and lack of experience told heavily. Of all the minnows...

Wallabies welcome back McDermott and Fa’amausili for crunch Wales match

By Nick Mulvenney SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Scrumhalf Tate McDermott and powerful prop Pone Fa’amausili will be available for Australia’s do-or-die clash with Wales at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday in a welcome boost for a Wallabies side rocked by last weekend’s loss to Fiji. Vice captain McDermott missed the Fiji match with concussion,...

France look for more polish against Namibia in raucous Marseille

By Nick Said MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – France may be overwhelming favourites for victory in their Rugby World Cup Pool A fixture with Namibia in Marseille on Thursday, but it is a chance to work on tactical plans and get minutes into the legs of several players, flanker Charles Ollivon says. France opened their campaign...

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Suva next for holders