The Fiji Times

Te Nana: Mind-set change needed

ONE of the greatest names in rugby 7s, Karl Te Nana believes the key to the growth of women’s rugby is a mind-set change. “There needs to be a mind-set change in terms of women’s rugby,” he said. “The numbers have grown in terms of the women’s game whether it is participation or viewership, and...

Rugby development begins at the grassroots level

THE most renowned name in the 7s game, Sir Gordon Tietjens believes all rugby development for both men and women begin at the grassroots level. “Schools are the best place to begin developing rugby players,” Sir Tietjens said. He believes that at the young stage, children are more akin to naturally learn the sport which...

Kunatuba reminisces of competition days

TUVALU men’s rugby coach and former Fijiana 7s coach Elenoa Kunatuba recalls when in her playing days how her team would be jeered at during rugby matches. “They were different times” said Kunatuba. “Rugby was Fiji’s sport, but it was very disheartening to see how the acceptation was different to men and women although we...

We are taking Japan seriously, says Jones

LONDON (Reuters) – It should come as no surprise to learn that Eddie Jones, the man who led Japan to the biggest shock in rugby history, is planning to pay his former team full respect when they play England at Twickenham for the first time on Saturday. Under Jones, Japan stunned South Africa in the...

Underhill philosophical about ‘the one that got away’

LONDON (Reuters) – For a few glorious moments on Saturday, Sam Underhill’s place in rugby folklore was assured — until the TMO stepped in to ruin England’s day and deprive their flanker of an after-dinner story that would have kept him in comfortable retirement. Trailing world champions New Zealand by a point with four minutes...

Chiefs to meet Crusaders at home for the third time

GALLAGHER Chiefs has announced their 2019 Investec Super Rugby round 16 home match against the Crusaders which will be played on June 1 at the ANZ stadium in Laucala bay, Suva. This will be the third time the teams will be clashing in Fiji’s capital. Super Rugby steering committee chair Litiana Loabuka said it was...

Boks enjoy return of winning feeling after recent setbacks

PARIS (Reuters) – After two narrow defeats, South Africa were able to reverse their fortunes and snatch a last-gasp victory of their own against France in Paris on Saturday, even if coach Rassie Erasmus felt they had not been at their best. Substitute hooker Bongi Mbonambi rumbled over well after the final hooter to help...

Shoulder injury adds more pain to terrible year for Williams

LONDON (Reuters) – Sonny Bill Williams’ wretched year went from bad to worse on Saturday as the two-times Rugby World Cup winner for New Zealand appears likely to have finished an injury-plagued campaign with a shoulder issue. The 33-year-old lasted just 30 minutes of the All Blacks’ 16-15 victory over England at Twickenham before he...

South Africa snatch stoppage-time win in France

PARIS (Reuters) – South Africa scored a try in stoppage time to edge to a dramatic 29-26 win over France at the Stade de France on Saturday, with hooker Bongi Mbonambi surging over to secure an unlikely victory. The Springboks stole possession with less a minute left and went almost the entire length of the...

Biggar penalty sees Wales end horror losing streak against Australia

CARDIFF (Reuters) – Replacement fullback Dan Biggar kicked a late penalty as Wales ended a 13-match losing streak against nemesis Australia with an error-strewn 9-6 victory at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, boosting their confidence ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup. Australia lock Ned Hanigan was penalised for not rolling away after making a...

All Blacks beats England

NEW Zealand learned valuable lessons in a hostile environment as they came from behind to eke out a 16-15 win over England at a rain-lashed Twickenham on Saturday. The world champions trailed 15-0 after England scored two early tries and although the All Blacks never threatened to cut loose with their usual flowing rugby, they...

Scotland thumps Fiji

WING Tommy Seymour scored a hat-trick of tries but it was Scotland’s forward dominance that laid the platform for a comfortable 54-17 victory over ill-disciplined Fiji in their November international at Murrayfield on Saturday. The Pacific islanders, at one stage reduced to 13 players, looked dangerous with ball in hand but Scotland starved them of...

George ready to go in for the kill against All Blacks

LONDON (Reuters) – England’s Jamie George is happy to be among coach Eddie Jones’s “finishers” with the potential to close out a famous victory over the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday. Jones has taken to describing his replacements as finishers to highlight their equal importance to starters in his side, even suggesting on Thursday...

Oceania 7s: Fiji defends title

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side has successfully defended the Oceania 7s title defeating New Zealand 17-12 in extra time today. Josua Vakurunabili scored the first try after some good work by nippy sweeper Jerry Tuwai. Fiji led 5-nil. New Zealand replied with a try to Andrew Newstubb and led 7-5 with the conversion going...

Oceania 7s: Australia wins women’s title

THE Australian women’s side is the new champion of the Oceania 7s after defeating last year’s winner New Zealand 14-10 in Suva today. Australia started the match well and scored two tries to one in the first spell to lead 14-5 At half time. It was all New Zealand in the second spell but sheer...

Oceania 7s: Fijiana finishes third

THE Fiji Airways Fijiana side finished third at the 2018 Oceania 7s. The Alivereti Doviverata coached side thumped Papua New Guinea 33-5 in the third and fourth place decider. Captain Litia Naiqato said that while it wasn’t the final match they would have wanted to play, they were still happy to end the tournament on...

Wales can sound World Cup warning with victory over nemesis Australia

CARDIFF (Reuters) – Wales coach Warren Gatland wants clear heads and composure under pressure as his side seek to end their horror run of 13 defeats in a row against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. The fixture comes 10 months before the sides clash in Tokyo at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and...

Oceania 7s: Inaugural exhibition match for players with hearing disability

A FIRST-ever exhibition match for players with hearing impairment was played at the 2018 Oceania 7s today. While the result did not matter much to the player and fans, the players from the Fiji Deaf and Tourism Fiji-sponsored team created history being part of the exhibition match. The man was organised to promote equality and...

Oceania 7s: Fiji, New Zealand in men’s final

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side will play New Zealand in the final of the 2018 Oceania 7s. This after the Gareth Baber coached Fijian side beat Samoa 36-7 in the second semi final. Tries from Alosio Naduva and Josua Vakurunabili saw Fiji leading 12-7 at the break. Apenisa Cakaubalavu added two tries in the...

Local 7s giants boost Tuckers Vunikavika 7s in Rewa

THE Tuckers Vunikavika rugby 7s tournament in Rewa has been boosted by the participation of local 7s giants at the Burebasaga School ground. The tournament was boosted by the presence of former national 7s reps like Donasio Ratubuli, Nasoni Roko and Sitiveni Waqa. The quarter final stages sees Lami Caviliers taking on Samurai Barracudas, Hideaway...

Oceania 7s: New Zealand Black Ferns thrashes Fijiana

THE FIJI Airways Fijiana 7s team has lost in the semi-final match against New Zealand Black Ferns 29-0 at the Oceania Sevens championship held at Laucala Bay, Suva. The team will now face Papua New Guinea for the third and fourth place. New Zealand will face Australia in the final.

Oceania 7s: Fijiana loses to the Aussies in second semis

THE Fiji Airways Fijiana side lost 29-nil to Australia in the second semi final of the women’s division. Australia dominated the Fijiana in all aspects and scored two tries in the first spell to lead 12-nil at the break. They added another three tries in the second spell for a comfortable win in the end....

Oceania 7s: Fiji-Samoa semi final clash

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side will play Samoa in the second Cup semi-final at the Oceania 7s this afternoon. This is after the Gareth Baber coached side thumped New Caledonia 38-nil in the last quarter final today. Ratu Napolioni Bolaca and Sevuloni Mocenacagi scored a try each as Fiji led 12-nil at the break....

Oceania 7s: Kiwis to face Aussie in semis

THE New Zealand side will play Australia in the first Championship semi final of the Oceania 7s later today. In the second semi final New Zealand thumped Papua New Guinea 47-nil. Captain Sam Dickson said that he was enjoying his stay in Fiji and wants to come back for a visit. “I haven’t seen anything...

Oceania 7s: Australia beats Tonga, through to semis

THE Australian men’s side is through to the Championship semi-final after defeating Tonga 19-7 in the first quarter final of the Oceania 7s today. Australia led 12-7 at half time. They will now play the winner of the New Zealand-Tonga match in the semis. Meanwhile, the Fiji Airways Fiji men’s 7s side takes on New...

Five players set for ‘Ikale Tahi debut

PARIS, 09 NOVEMBER 2018 (RNZ PACIFIC) – Ospreys prop Ma’afu Fia and Hawkes Bay lock Sam Ulufonua will make their international rugby debut this weekend after being named to start for Tonga against the French Barbarians. Wellington prop Tolu Fahamokioa, Bay of Plenty flanker Zane Kapeli and Taranaki wing Latu Vaeno are also poised to...

Hogg fit to face Fiji as Scotland ring the changes

EDINBURGH, Nov 8 (Reuters) – A fit again Stuart Hogg will be back to bolster Scotland for Saturday’s test against Fiji as coach Gregor Townsend made nine changes to the side that were beaten by Wales last weekend. Townsend delayed announcing the team by 24 hours as he waited anxiously to see if British &...

PNG Palais to set new pathway in the 15s game

PORT MORESBY, 09 NOVEMBER 2018 (POST COURIER) – The Papua New Guinea Palais 15s have nothing to lose and only more to gain. With a week to go before the opening clash of the 2018 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, the Palais have been doing the hard-yards to be game-ready for their championships opener against Samoa...

Michael Cheika backs hothead hooker Tolu Latu to keep his cool against Wales

CARDIFF, 09 NOVEMBER 2018 (AAP) – Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has thrown his support behind firebrand hooker Tolu Latu after handing him a surprising first start in almost two years against Wales in Cardiff. The Wallabies are looking to record a 14th successive win against the Welsh on Sunday morning (NZT), with Latu one of...

Rugby

13th November

Tuicuvu out, Tuisova ‘The Bus’ in