Fiji face tough rugby Sevens test in Dubai

2011-12-02T05:30:21Z

Fiji come into the second round of this season's Sevens World Series on Friday on a high after seeing off New Zealand to win the opening tournament last weekend.

The South Sea Islanders outplayed the reigning champions 26-12 in the final of the Gold Coast Sevens, and Fiji coach Alifereti Dere said the victory would give his team all the confidence they needed for the

Fiji flanker loses appeal against W.Cup ban

2011-09-24T03:31:46Z

Fiji flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu lost his appeal against a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle Saturday, meaning he will miss the rest of the World Cup pool phase and a possible quarter-final.

An International Rugby Board (IRB) panel in Auckland dismissed the appea...

Springboks demolish Fiji in rugby W. Cup

2011-09-17T10:30:14Z

South Africa made it two wins out of two in the defence of their World Cup crown with a comfortable 49-3 victory over a misfiring Fiji on Saturday.

The Springboks showed a steely grit, and no little flair, in dispatching a Fijian side that started well but whose preferred ball-in-hand game crumbled badly the longer they were unable ...

Bakkies back but injuries force Springbok changes

2011-09-14T18:30:15Z

Injury-hit South Africa made six changes to the team that will face Fiji in Wellington on Saturday but received a boost with veteran lock Bakkies Botha's return from an achilles tendon strain.

Botha missed the Springboks' opening New Zealand to ease a travel ban on members of the Pacific nation's military regime so it could include a soldier in its Rugby World Cup squad.

New Zealand has barred Fijian soldiers, including those who play for the national rugby team, from entering the country since military strongman All Blacks embark on their World Cup build-up with a Test against Fiji on Friday, resting key players but desperately hoping that they do not fall into the same trap as Australia.

The one new call-up is Otago Highlanders lock Jarrad Ho...

Injury-time try gives Japan Pacific Nations Cup

2011-07-13T05:30:27Z

An injury-time time try by Yuta Imamura saw Japan snatch the Pacific Nations Cup rugby crown with a crucial 24-13 bonus-point win over a 12-man Fiji in a tense final match.

In a tournament that went down to the wire, the John Kirwan-coached Japan needed to beat Fiji and score four tries for th...

Fiji will be at the World Cup: world rugby body

2011-06-16T12:30:46Z

Fiji will take part in this year's World Cup in spite of a New Zealand visa ban on anyone associated with the Pacific island's military junta, according to Mike Miller, the secretary general of the International Rugby Board (IRB).

IRB push N.Z. to lift rugby W.Cup ban on Fijians

2011-06-02T04:30:56Z

The International Rugby Board said it would keep lobbying New Zealand to lift a ban on Fijian players with links to the country's military regime from this year's World Cup.

Prime Minister John Key reiterated the policy Wednesd...

New Zealand firm on Fiji rugby World Cup sanctions

2011-05-13T01:30:26Z

New Zealand emphasised that it would not ease sanctions barring Fijian players with military or government ties from travelling to the Rugby World Cup.

The embargo, imposed following the 2006 military coup, will remain until there is evidence of substantial progress toward the return of democracy, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said on Friday.

McCu...

IRB brokers deal in Fiji World Cup crisis

2011-02-19T03:30:11Z

The International Rugby Board (IRB) said it had brokered an agreement between the Fiji's rugby union and government which should keep the Pacific island nation in this year's World Cup.

"The government's commitment to significant investment in Fiji's Rugby World Cup 2011 campaign (will) go ahead as pr...

Fiji regime calls on rugby chiefs to quit

2011-01-10T20:30:23Z

Fiji's military regime on Tuesday demanded that rugby union chiefs in the Pacific nation quit en masse if the sport wanted government funding for this year's Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Sports Minister Filipe Bole said he was concerned at official findings the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) mismanaged a fundraising lot...

Below par Wales held to draw

2010-11-29T15:00:05Z

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Wales v Fiji Match Report Millennium Stadium 19th November 2010

2010-11-29T14:53:09Z

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Gatland ready for Fiji Test

2010-11-29T15:00:01Z

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Sebastien Chabal happy after number comes up

2010-11-29T14:59:53Z

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Why America is missing out on Rugby

2010-11-04T14:43:27Z

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Major international rugby union competitions

2010-11-04T14:43:07Z

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Rugby World Cup in New Zealand 2011: Pools C and D Kick Off Times

2010-09-29T21:28:21Z

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What Should I Know About Fiji?

2010-11-05T10:04:44Z

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Kicking machine Wilkinson can't save Toulon

2010-08-27T13:15:37Z

England star Jonny Wilkinson kicked 26 points but was unable to prevent big-spending Toulon from crashing to a 36-31 defeat by Racing-Metro on Friday, the club's second defeat in three matches.

Wilkinson kicked eight penalties and converted Argentine flanker Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe's 73rd-minute try.

But Racing were worthy winners, scoring three tries through flanker ...

Fiji Rugby Team and Rugby World Cup

2010-09-09T21:04:45Z

The Fiji national rugby union team is one of the strongest national rugby union teams of the world, and the third-strongest from Oceania, even still as a second tier nation. It is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked ninth in the world by the IRB as of 23 March 2009. Despite this low rating in the 2007 Rugby World ...

Giteau out of England rugby Test with injury

2010-06-11T00:16:27Z

The injury-hit Wallabies have been forced to make a late change to their starting line up for Saturday's Test against England, after Matt Giteau was ruled out with a hip complaint.

Giteau, who sustained a heavy knock during last week's 49-3 drubbing of Fiji, will be replaced by Wallabies may have paid a heavy price ahead of the first test against England after losing two key players during their 49-3 win over Fiji.

Front rower Ben Alexander was carried off midway through the second half with a knee injury and will be out of action for at least four weeks.

That came just moments af...

Wallabies score seven tries to tame Fiji

2010-06-05T07:15:44Z

The Wallabies scored seven tries to launch their international season with a convincing 49-3 win over ill-disciplined Fiji at Canberra Stadium on Saturday.

The Australians, fielding five debutants, were too structured and enterprising for the Fijians and went on with the job in the second half after leading 14-3 at halftime.

The Wallabies tuned up for the first of...

Hong Kong pull off historic Sevens win over Wales

2010-03-27T10:15:53Z

Hong Kong pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Sevens on Saturday with a last-gasp victory against world champions Wales.

Meanwhile it was business as usual for emerging favourites New Zealand and Fiji as a lacklustre Samoa, widely ti...

Hong Kong pull off historic sevens win over Wales

2010-03-27T06:15:42Z

Hong Kong pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of World Sevens on Saturday with a last-gasp victory against world champions Wales.

Meanwhile it was business as usual for emerging favourites New Zealand and Fiji as a lacklustre Samoa, widely ti...

Wales, USA produce shock wins in Adelaide sevens

2010-03-19T07:15:27Z

Wales and the United States set the Australian round of the IRB Sevens series alight in the opening round with shock wins over Fiji and England here Friday.

Tournament favourites New Zealand and

S.Africa bid to extend rugby sevens monopoly

2010-06-16T11:51:12Z

South Africa open the defence of their IRB Sevens World Series here on Friday under mounting pressure from a resurgent New Zealand, Fiji and an England side missing their inspirational skipper.

The Springboks topped last season's standings with 132 points garnered from the eight ...

Flawless Sexton eases Ireland past Fiji

2010-04-16T08:58:14Z

Jonathan Sexton announced his arrival in international rugby with a flawless performance in Ireland's comprehensive victory over Fiji here Saturday.

Playing at his home ground - the RDS - the 24-year-old kicked two penalties and five conversions, including three from the touchline, in a text-book example of outhalf play.

A ruck off a lineout near the Fiji 22 led to the first penalty which th...

Ireland look to show plenty in reserve against Fiji

2010-04-16T08:58:44Z

Ireland coach Declan Kidney decided Saturday's Test against Fiji was an opportunity to give his second-string a chance to shine.

So he picked a team replete with British and Irish Lions in key positions.

It all gives an indication of the scale of the task facing Scotland's back-up scrum-half, has been ruled out of Saturday's Test against Australia after failing a fitness test on an injured ankle.

The Edinburgh number nine suffered the injury in last Saturday's 23-10 win over Fiji after coming on to replace co-captain

S.Africa defend Adelaide Sevens title

2010-04-16T15:45:22Z

South Africa successfully defended their Adelaide Sevens rugby title with a convincing 26-7 win over Kenya in the final here on Sunday.

The South Africans controlled the first all-African IRB Sevens Cup final to avenge their 15-14 loss to Kenya in their pool game on Saturday.

South Africa stretched their lead to 28 points ...

Fiji break Hong Kong rugby drought

2010-04-16T15:57:58Z

Fiji won a tense final against South Africa 26-24 to claim their first Hong Kong Sevens title in 10 years on Sunday.

The Fijians turned on the style in a flamboyant first half before clinging on as South Africa agonisingly put a last-gasp conversion wide.

Fiji took the last of 10 previous Hong Kong titles in 1999 and also lifted the 2005 World Cup here, while three-time f...

Kenya stun Fiji in day of World Sevens upsets

2010-06-16T12:12:32Z

Kenya sensationally dumped defending champions Fiji out of the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament here on Saturday as the three other top seeds, New Zealand, South Africa and England,...

Fiji given World Sevens fright by Georgia

2010-06-16T12:12:35Z

Defending champions Fiji were given a fright by Georgia in their bid to defend the Rugby World Cup Sevens title here on Thursday before eventually running out 26-10 winners.

Main title contenders New Zealand, South Africa and

All Blacks up against France, England face Scots in 2011

2010-04-16T14:03:16Z

Tournament hosts New Zealand were drawn alongside France, the team that beat them in the quarter-finals of last year's edition, in the draw for the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup held here Monday.

Elsewhere old rivals England and Scotland were paired alongside one another in a World ...

Benjamin's last-gasp try clinches South Africa victory

2010-04-16T14:05:00Z

Ryno Benjamin's late try edged South Africa to a dramatic 19-12 win over England in the opening leg of the new IRB World Sevens Series in Dubai on Saturday.

While Benjamin's name appears on the scoresheet, he owed plenty to ...

Johnson demands higher tempo as Wallabies loom

2010-04-16T14:32:34Z

England will have to dig a lot deeper for victory over the next three weeks but the manner of their success over the Pacific Islanders was significant. The old template of forward domination first and foremost seems to be going the way of the bubble perm and cassette recorders, to be replaced by something altogether more sleek and modern. This latest red rose generation has the potential to break the mould and a tantalis...

Smith launches England's charm offensive with emphasis on speed and mobility

2010-04-16T14:37:33Z

As Martin Johnson sat in a wood-panelled lounge in Bagshot this week, explaining his first selection as England's manager, there was a minor distraction outside. It turned out to be someone cleaning the windows with a squeegee - an appropriate metaphor if ever there was one. This new-look England coachi...

Coronation match is a reminder of the forgotten islands

2010-07-28T11:52:57Z

It has been clear for some time that the globalisation of sport is out of control. Darren Pattinson is the most recent unwitting pawn in an increasingly weird and complicated game. And, as professional athletes move about the planet in search of the good life, the consequences are kicking in all over the place.

Next weekend in Tonga, a rare game of rugby will be played. Rare in...

Fiji thwart Japan fightback

2010-10-15T10:30:44Z

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Fiji South Pacific Rescue

2010-11-25T21:31:36Z

One of three teenagers from Tokelau islands, is embraced by an unidentified person on his arrival at the Stanley Brown Naval Base in Suva, Fuji, Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. The trio survived 50 days adrift in a tiny boat in the South Pacific by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish and a seagull before bein...

South Pacific Rescue

2010-11-25T21:31:30Z

Boys, center, two of three teenagers from Tokelau islands, are escorted on their arrival at the Stanley Brown Naval Base in Suva, Fuji, Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. The trio survived 50 days adrift in a tiny boat in the South Pacific by drinking rainwater and eating raw fish and a seagull before being rescued...

Disney Classic Golf

2010-11-13T13:32:00Z

Vijay Singh, of Fiji Islands, watches his tee shot on the 10th hole during the third round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic PGA golf tournament in Vijay Singh of Fiji hits a drive on the third hole during a practice round for the PGA Championship golf tournament Monday, Aug. 9, 2010, at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wis. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

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Travelers Championship Golf

2010-06-25T16:31:25Z

Vijay Singh of Fiji, adjusts his shirt on the 18th hole during the second round of the Travelers Championship golf tournament on Friday, June 25, 2010, in Cromwell, Conn. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

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