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 | 10 (as of 6th October 2016) |
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 is the men's representative side of Fiji in rugby union. Despite the relatively small size of their represented country, in the 2007 Rugby World Cup Fiji defeated Wales 38–34 to claim a quarter final spot (theoretically placing them in the top 8 teams in the world) and proceeded to give eventual winners South Africa a scare eventually going down 37–20.
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. In addition a significant number of players eligible to play for Fiji end up representing Australia or New Zealand; two notable examples are the Fiji-born, but New Zealand-raised, cousins and All Blacks Joe Rokocoko and Sitiveni Sivivatu and Wallabies Wing Lote Tuqiri.
Fiji has won the most Pacific Tri-Nations Championships of the three participating teams. 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.