The Fiji Times

Lautoka caps off a brilliant season; retains Vanua Trophy

Lautoka Maroons have capped off a brilliant season with a clinical 29-19 win against Ba in the Vanua Trophy last Challenge match at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. The win has also set a record for the Maroons this season as they now have gone 10 consecutive games unbeaten in the season. Both teams played...

Fiji dig deep to beat Georgia and close on last eight

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) -Waisea Nayacalevu and Vinaya Habosi scored second-half tries to steer Fiji to a gritty 17-12 victory over Georgia in World Cup Pool C on Saturday, taking the Pacific Islanders a step closer to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2007. It was a poor game in Bordeaux between a Fijian side...

RWC 2023 | Matavesi optimistic

Sam Matavesi says the FIJI Water Flying Fijians have set a goal to win and go beyond the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup and even lift the Webb Ellis Trophy, and they will take one game at a time to achieve it. The team would have played Georgia earlier this morning to try and...

Farebrother Challenge | Nadi rules final show

In the final show down for the INKK Farebrother Challenge, Rooster Chicken Nadi dethroned holders Nadroga, after edging the home side 22-20 at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. Nadi won the Farebrother Trophy against Nadroga at Lawaqa Park after 40 years, having last beaten the Stallions on their home turf in 1983. Both teams emptied...

RWC 2023 | Fiji works overtime to conquer valiant Georgian outfit

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians had to work overtime to secure a 17-12 win against Georgia during their Rugby World Cup pool C match at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. Trailing 9-0 at half-time, Fiji scored two second-half tries to captain Waisea Nayacalevu and replacement winger Vinaya Habosi. Frank Lomani, who came off the...

RWC 2023 | Fiji’s missed opportunities; Georgia leads first half

Missed opportunities, dropped balls and poor line-outs summed up Fiji’s first-half Rugby World Cup match against Georgia at the Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France. The Georgians kicked over three penalties to lead Fiji 9-0 at half time. Georgia applied early pressure and was rewarded with a penalty 25 metres from in front of the...

RWC 2023 | Atmosphere builds up ahead of Fiji-Georgia match

The atmosphere here in Bordeaux is building up as the Fiji versus Georgia match draws closer. Fijians from all over the world have flown in to France to watch this game. Former players and their families are also here to show their support. Apart from the Fijian and Georgian supporters, there are also some Japanese...

Foster happy to quell “panic” over World Cup chances

LYON, France (Reuters) -New Zealand have laid down a marker for the remainder of the Rugby World Cup following their superb 96-17 victory over Italy in Pool A on Friday, with a delighted coach Ian Foster admitting he did not see the huge scoreline coming. The All Blacks ran in 14 tries as they overwhelmed...

Former butcher Sebastian ready to grab his Scotland chance

LILLE, France (Reuters) – Scotland’s Javan Sebastian quit rugby to become a butcher but it was a short-lived career change and he has come full circle to earn a first Rugby World Cup start in Saturday’s Pool B fixture against Romania in Lille. Prop Sebastian’s rugby journey has been unconventional, but at age 29 he...

New Zealand hammer sorry Italy to close in on World Cup quarter-finals

LYON, France (Reuters) – Three-time champions New Zealand ran in 14 tries to destroy Italy 96-17 for a bonus-point victory in Pool A and take a decisive step towards the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup on Friday. The All Blacks, with lock Sam Whitelock celebrating a record 149th cap, showed no mercy at Lyon’s...

RWC 2023 | Ratuniyarawa presents jerseys for Fiji vs Georgia clash

FORMER Flying Fijians lock forward Api Ratuniyarawa handed out the jerseys to the matchday 23 who will face Georgia in a few hours time. The 37-year-old was part of the initial Fiji Rugby World Cup squad but pulled out because of family commitments. He was in Bordeaux on Friday night to hand out the jerseys...

RWC 2023 | Byrne backs Raiwalui’s line-up selection

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne stated that the strong Flying Fijians line-up for the crucial match against Georgia has been a ‘great call’ by Simon Raiwalui. While talking to Drua’s head of commerical and marketing Shane Hussein during the ‘Drua Talk’ podcast, Byrne said the line-up showed how much a bonus point...

Tonga make three changes for “great occasion” against South Africa

MARSEILLE, France – Semisi Paea will start at number eight in the place of suspended Vaea Fifita, while there are two new wings in Anzelo Tuitavuki and Fine Inisi for Tonga in their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash against South Africa in Marseille on Sunday. Fifita received a four-game ban for his red card...

Uruguay’s Dosantos to miss New Zealand showdown after ban

Uruguay flanker Eric Dosantos will miss his side’s final Rugby World Cup Pool A fixture with New Zealand in Lyon on Oct. 5 after receiving an effective two-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the 36-26 victory over Namibia on Wednesday. Dosantos was too upright as he clashed heads with Namibia’s Adriaan Booysen in an...

From joker to captain courageous, Kolisi reaches milestone

TOULON, France (Reuters) – Siya Kolisi will captain South Africa for the 50th time in the must-win Rugby World Cup Pool B clash with Tonga in Marseille on Sunday, something that would have seemed fanciful in his early years when just having food on the table was a daily challenge. The flanker has become an...

Jones prepared to be the fall guy as Wallabies eye Portugal win

LYON, France (Reuters) -Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said he took full responsibility for Australia’s disappointing World Cup campaign and is hoping his young team will produce a performance to make the country proud in Sunday’s final Pool C match against Portugal. Jones and his players have received a barrage of criticism since their 40-6 loss...

RWC 2023 | Royal inspiration for Fiji

THE Flying Fijians have been boosted by well wishes from King Charles in Bordeaux last Friday as the team prepares for their next pool match against Georgia this weekend. King Charles surprised the team in what trainer Nacanieli Cawanibuka said was a “cool experience”. “It was a great experience. We formed a walkway for him...

Aussies ‘too strong’ for Fijiana 7s

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side recorded their second loss of day two in the Fiji Airways International 7s tournament after they were convincingly beaten by Aussie Green 34-12 at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday. Australia looked confident with ball in hand from the first whistle as Maddison Levi went over the line for the...

Levan maps plan

THE FIJI Water Flying Fijians can expect Georgia to come out with all guns firing when the two sides meet in their Rugby World Cup pool C match at the Stade de Bordeaux tomorrow 3.45am F(iji time). Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili says they plan to chance their arm against a strong Fiji side by taking...

RWC 2023 | Team adopts new belief

Ubuntu is an African philosophy meaning “I am because we are”. It is a phrase that has been adopted by the FIJI Water Flying Fijians during the Rugby World Cup in France. In a team context, it is adding value to a collective target that emphasises unity. While there is competition for the matchday 23 within...

RWC 2023 | Georgia a threat

FIJI Water Flying Fijians blindside flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu knows too well the physical power of Georgia’s players. Having played against some of them at his Pau club and the French Top 14 competition, Tagitagivalu is looking forward to a real battle. “They are a very physical team, very tough. We need to match that physicality...

RWC 2023 | Levan maps plans

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians can expect Georgia to change their game from defence to attack when the two sides meet in a Rugby World Cup pool C match at the Stade de Bordeaux tomorrow. Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili says they plan to chance their arm against a strong Fiji side by taking the...

RWC 2023 | Coach makes one change to starting

FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui has made one change to his starting 15 to face Georgia tomorrow – Selestino Ravutaumada in on the wing for Jiuta Wainiqolo. There is one change on the bench with prop Samu Tawake coming in for Mesake Doge. “There’s a couple of changes there, obviously Jiuta Wainiqolo...

RWC 2023 | Big challenge on hand – Simon

FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui says they have a big challenge on their hands when they come up against a very physical Georgia side at Stade de Bordeaux tomorrow. The two sides will meet again after having last played out a 15-all draw two years ago at the height of the COVID-19...

Farebrother Trophy | Physical clash … Naba expects tough Nadi challenge

We are expecting a very physical encounter, says Nadroga coach Etonia Naba ahead of their crucial clash against Nadi in the INKK Farebrother Trophy Challenge match today at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. While speaking to this newspaper, the former national 7s captain said the feeling in camp was good with the boys eager for the...

RWC2023 | Team has stepped up defence

FIJI Water Flying Fijians assistant coach Darly Gibson says players have stepped up in terms of their defence during the Rugby World Cup in France. The side will take on Georgia tomorrow at the Stade de Bordeaux in their pool C clash which kicks off at 3.45am. “I think defence, along with a number of factors,...

RWC2023 | Gibson says current side best prepped Fiji team ever

THE current FIJI Water Flying Fijians team is the best prepared side to date to compete at a Rugby World Cup, says assistant coach Daryl Gibson. The side has three players who are appearing in their third World Cup – openside flanker Levani Botia, captain Waisea Nayacalevu and prop Peni Ravai. Majority of the 33-member...

RWC2023 | Gibson says Fiji is ready for ‘motivated’ Georgia

FIJI Water Flying Fijians assistant coach Daryl Gibson says Georgia will be motivated to get their first win of the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Fiji tomorrow. The Lelos have recorded a loss to Australia and draw with Portugal, and face the Flying Fijians at Stade de Bordeaux at 3.45am. Fiji goes into the match...

Dupont’s recovery going well, last eight participation still in the balance

AIX-EN-PROVENCE, France (Reuters) -Antoine Dupont’s recovery is going well and the France captain’s condition will be assessed when he returns to the squad this weekend, Les Bleus’ health manager said on Thursday. Dupont underwent surgery on a broken cheekbone and the French camp is hoping the scrumhalf will be able to play in the quarter-finals...

Rugby

Escott Shield | Police Blues into semi-finals