Fiji 15's
 |
|
| Nickname(s) | Flying Fijians |
|---|---|
| Emblem | Palm |
| Union | Fiji Rugby Union |
| Head coach | John McKee |
| Captain | Akapusi Qera |
| Most caps | Nicky Little (71) |
| Top scorer | Nicky Little (670) |
| Top try scorer | Sanivalati Laulau (20) |
| Home stadium | ANZ National Stadium |
| World Rugby ranking | |
| Current | 9 (as of 21st August 2017) |
| Highest | 9 (2015) |
| Lowest | 16 (2012) |
| First international | |
 Samoa 0–6  Fiji(Apia, Samoa; 18 August 1924) |
|
| Biggest win | |
Fiji 120–4  Niue(Apia, Samoa; 10 September 1983) |
|
| Biggest defeat | |
 New Zealand 91–0 Fiji(Albany, New Zealand; 12 October 2005) |
|
| World Cup | |
| Appearances | 6 (First in 1987) |
| Best result | Quarter-finals, 1987, 2007 |
| Website | www.fijirugby.com |
The Fiji national rugby union team competes every four years at the Rugby World Cup, and their best performances were the 1987 and 2007 tournaments when they defeated Argentina and Wales respectively to reach the quarterfinals. Fiji also regularly plays test matches during the June and November test windows. Fiji also plays in the Pacific Tri-Nations, and has won the most Pacific Tri-Nations Championships of the three participating teams.
Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the main sport. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000. One of the problems for Fiji is simply getting their rugby players to play for Fiji as a country, as many have contracts in Europe or with Super Rugby teams where the money is far more rewarding. The repatriated salaries of its overseas stars have become an important part of some local economies.
The cibi (pronounced [ˈðimbi]) war dance is performed by the Fiji rugby team before each Test match. It has been used on the rugby field since 1939, though its origins date back to the country's warring times with its Pacific neighbours.
Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu Island in 1884. In 1913 a Union was founded for the European settlers.
In December 1913, the All Blacks, who had been touring so very successfully in California, were on their way back to New Zealand. The Fiji RFU arranged a game with them at Albert Park, the first representative match to be played in the colony. The Fiji team were Europeans. The All Blacks won 67–3; Fiji's points came from a try scored by their captain and coach, PJ Sheehan. By 1914 a 'native competition' was started and in 1915 a Fiji Native Union was begun and became affiliated to the Fiji RFU.
Fiji played their first international against Western Samoa in Apia, Samoa on 18 August 1924. Fiji's 20-man squad came exclusively from the five registered native clubs of the time. The match was played at 7 am to allow the Samoans time to get to work afterwards and was played on a pitch with a large tree on the halfway line. Fiji wore black and won 6–0 despite playing barefoot. The return match was won 9–3 by Samoa to draw the series. The first-ever Fiji test team continued their overseas adventure with a nine-match tour of Tonga. Though Fiji lost the first test played in Nukuʻalofa 9–6, they were not to lose again, taking the second test 14–3 then drawing the decider 0–0. They won all six of the matches against non-test opposition.
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Wikipedia