The Fiji Times

Suva finds its winning mojo

Suva continues to record positive results in the Skipper Cup competition after accounting for a young and inexperienced Nadroga XVs 26-19 on a soggy Lawaqa Park ground two in Sigatoka during a Round 8 clash yesterday. The Capital City boys outscored the hosts four tries to three and earned a vital bonus point victory to...

Drua thankful to fans

The turnout from fans in Australia for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua home games was not up to expectations, said Fijian Drua chief executive officer Brian Thorburn. “Really disappointed with the support in Australia. The crowds that we had in the matches were all less than three thousand. Ranging from 1100 for a couple of...

Outmuscled – Drua convincingly beaten by mighty Crusaders

Mistakes from the Fijian Drua players helped the Crusaders put up a big score in their Super Rugby Pacific match in Christchurch last night. The home side scored nine tries to the Drua’s none in a 61-3 drubbing. Fijian Drua captain Nemani Nagusa said while his players gave their best shot, mistakes cost them the...

Crusaders wallop Fijian Drua 61-3 in Christchurch

At Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch: Crusaders 61 (Leicester Fainga’anuku try 2min, Tom Christie try 15min, Sam Whitelock try 28min; Sevu Reece tries 37min and 53 min, Fergus Burke try 47 min, George Bridge try 62min, Braydon Ennor try 70min, Tom Christie try 75min; Burke 8 con) Fijian Drua 3 (Teti Tela pen). HT: 28-3. Yellow card: Selestino Ravutaumada 69 min...

Tuidraki defies father’s rugby advice

As a child, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre did not like going to school. But he had a dream. And that was to one day represent the country in rugby. Tuidraki was so obsessed with the oval-ball game that he used to skip school every Friday while he was a student of Nadi Muslim Primary and play for...

Nagasau, Uluinasau say it is time Fijiana take centre stage

Two senior Fijiana 7s reps Rusila Nagasau and Reapi Uluinasau believe the side has what it takes to win the Toulouse 7s this weekend. The duo won bronze medal with the Fijiana side at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last year. Team captain Nagasau said preparations had been tough and the players were ready. “We have...

Gollings on a mission

The expectation from fans to win every tournament they play keeps the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side on their toes. Heading into the Toulouse 7s in France this weekend, a huge number of Fijian supporters are expected to turn up and cheer the side on while tens of thousands more will be glued to television...

Uluilakepa says Fijian Drua ready to take on Crusaders

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will battle one of the most successful teams in Super Rugby this evening going up against the mighty and champion Crusaders. The Crusaders have won the coveted Super Rugby title 12 times. Speaking to The Fiji Times from Christchurch, Drua prop Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 23, said even though the team lacked...

Fijian Drua faces daunting task in Christchurch

It’s the penultimate week of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific regular season and fans have a pretty good idea of the finals picture as it stands. Avoiding defeat against the second placed Brumbies on Saturday evening would lock up the minor premiership for the Blues with the Brumbies in a battle for second spot with...

Battle of the top 8 spot

Winners are grinners. It was great to see the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua start well against Moana Pasifika in Western Sydney and then complete the job. The Drua earned bragging rights against the other new team and the four points will help to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon in their debut season. Moana Pasifika has...

The runaway player – Tuidraki skips school to follow dream

Tuidraki Samusamuvodre skipped school and used to fib that his grandmother had passed away – just to train and play rugby. Such was his obsession with the oval ball game. Not even the stern words of his father, Mesake Samusamuvodre, that “no child in the family would become a rugby star” could deter him. The...

Black Ferns forced to tweak Pacific Four squad

The Black Ferns have been forced to make three changes to their squad for next month’s Pacific Four Series against Australia, the US and Canada. New Zealand Rugby confirmed on Thursday first five-eighth Patricia Maliepo had been ruled out with concussion, while outside back Grace Steinmetz and veteran utility back Carla Hohepa had foot injuries....

All Black Scott Barrett sought mental skills and tackle technique advice after high-shot ban

Crusaders captain Scott Barrett says he took advice from the All Blacks’ mental skills experts and worked on his tackling technique during a “long three weeks’’ ban. Barrett – who will lead the Crusaders from blindside flanker against the Fijian Drua on Friday night – was suspended after a red card for high shot on Blues...

Super Rugby Pacific teams: Highlanders keep Sam Gilbert at 10, Ioanes out for Blues

Crunch time is here as the business end of the competition nears. The crucial final standings on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder will be determined in the next two weeks, and the Kiwi teams can’t afford any slip-ups this weekend. Round 14 starts with the Crusaders-Fijian Drua game in Christchurch on Friday, and concludes with...

Denelanagi out for remainder of season, more changes for Drua

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua Head Coach Mick Byrne has announced his line-up for big clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch this Friday. Missing from the line-up will be recent team captain Meli Derenalagi and prop Meli Tuni, both of whom will undergo immediate surgery for ACL injury. The injuries and required rehabilitation mean both players...

Super W win to aid rugby growth

The chairwoman of Australia’s sports diplomacy advisory council says the achievement of the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua in winning the Super W rugby title has set a platform for women’s rugby in Fiji to grow. Stephanie Brantz, who is an Australian TV sports reporter events presenter, producer and commentator spoke highly of the Fijiana Drua’s...

Drua after good results

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will work on different patterns of play in order to overcome the might of the Crusaders at the Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch, New Zealand this Friday. The Fijian Drua have a short turnaround period having played the Moana Pasifika in Sydney, Australia last Sunday. The side travelled back to its...

Uluinasau among stars

Fijiana star Reapi Uluinasau is one of seven players named by World Rugby to watch during the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Toulouse, France this weekend. The 27-year-old is named among 7s stars Michaela Blyde of New Zealand, Australia’s standout performer Charlotte Caslick, Brazilian speedster Thalia Costa, USA forward Ilona Maher, the most...

Fijiana duo on a mission

Fijiana 15s players Vika Matarugu and Joana Sauto have one mission – and that is to represent Fiji at the upcoming Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship in New Zealand. The two were spotted in Labasa on Monday returning to their families on Vanua Levu and Taveuni. Matarugu and Sauto have been away in Australia with the...

Family motivates star – Nate’s reason for playing

Having her family support is a big boost for Asinate Serevi and for that she is grateful. Nate as she is commonly called, is the daughter of World Rugby Hall of Fame legend Waisale Serevi. The Qarani, Gau lass was named in the 32-member Rooster Chicken Fijiana 15s squad for the two Test matches against...

Matera keeps Argentine flag flying in Super Rugby

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Los Jaguares might be a fading memory from the intercontinental Super Rugby competition buried by the COVID-19 pandemic, but Pablo Matera is delivering weekly reminders of the quality of Argentine rugby in the new Pacific-oriented version. The former Pumas skipper played his best game in the red shirt of the Canterbury Crusaders...

Nale savours rugby calling

Former Marist Brothers High School student Jerome Nale has been named in the USA Eagles side for the Toulouse 7s this weekend. Coach Mike Friday announced a mixed lineup of experienced campaigners and youngsters with the 22 year-old Vadravadra, Ba lad in the side. He was part of the Eagles squad earlier in the series...

Cakobau Park work yet to be completed

Works at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori is not complete yet, Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar said while speaking during the opening of the 143rd Girmit carnival in Nausori . She said other pavilions at the park needed to be fixed. She said the park was closed due to damage caused by tropical...

Fiji 7s gives back

The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s squad members will engage in more community work in a bid to give back to the community. Last week, the national team took time out from their hectic training schedule to do some community work in Sigatoka. The players were present at the Sigatoka hospital to where they dismantled some...

7s oomph! – Kunatani, Bolaca to boost confidence levels

Fiji Airways Fiji 7s skipper Tevita Daugunu expects the inclusion of Semi Kunatani and Napolioni Bolaca to boost the confidence level of the players for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Toulouse and London. Kunatani marks his return in the abbreviated code after a lapse of five years while Bolaca has been drafted...

‘Write your names on stone’

Fijian Drua captain Meli Derenalagi told his players to write their names on stones and not on sand when they faced the Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific last Saturday. Derenalagi said the match was a historic one and the players were reminded of the stakes. “I just motivated them and tried to tell them...

Special day for Pacific

The historical clash between two of the newest Super Rugby Pacific teams, the Fijian Drua and the Moana Pasifika will be cherished by those who were part of it. The Drua beat the Moana Pasifika 34-19 on Saturday night. Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said it was a special day for everyone. “It...

Short turn around time for next game

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will have a short turn around before they face the mighty Crusaders in its next match in the Super Rugby Pacific this week. Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said the Crusaders would have followed the Drua’s match against Moana Pasifika last Saturday. “It’s a short turn around and you...

Boys were hungry for win, says Derenalagi

The 67-5 loss to the Hurricanes last week was a turning point for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side. Team captain Meli Derenalagi said the loss inspired him team to come out stronger against the Moana Pasifika. “The boys were hungry for this game because of the upset last week, so this few days that...

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