Australia and Fiji rugby came into contact in 1949 when the Australian Rugby Union invited Fiji for a tour. But Fiji decided to postpone it to 1952 and the side became the first Fiji rugby side to step into Australian playing field.
In an article published by The Fiji Times on May 10, 1976, this was during an era where Australia’s rugby standard was not as high, and its financial position as it is today. But that tour came to be one of the best Fiji has ever made to Australia in history.
The national team took Australia by storm and ran into a scoring spree of 55 tries in 10 matches including a win in the second test against a full Wallaby team.
Unlike the later tours, the 1952 side led by one of Fiji’s well known captains, Apakuki Tuitavua, had rejuvenating effect on Australian rugby and made a record profit of more than $20,000.
The team played brilliant and attractive rugby that it twice broke the attendance record for a rugby union match on the Sydney Cricket Ground as well as the record for the Brisbane Exhibition Ground.
Fiji’s play during the 1952 tour pleased the Australian spectators and officials alike to the point where another Fiji side was invited to tour Australia in 1954.
But with such a short interval, the magic of the 1952 side was not the same, but spectators turned out in full force and Fiji scoring was 530 points in 17 matches.
The banner of good humour of the previous tour was not much in evidence on and off the field.
In 1953, an Australian XV had played six games in Fiji on its way to Ceylon. But as this team consisted of most New South Wales players who paid their own expenses it was not in one sense a Wallaby side.
The team won three and lost three matches. It was probably the bad taste left behind in the 1954 tour of Australia that it took seven years for Australia to invite Fiji again in 1961.
The 1961 tour was said to be very successful because of good behaviour of the players on and off the field. But Fiji rugby observers believed it was the weakest side ever to be sent abroad.
A Queensland Rugby Union side came to Fiji in 1965. This helped Fiji’s rugby after its thrashing by the 1964 New Zealand Maoris at home.
But by this time Fiji’s name was spread through Britain and Europe after the 1964 tour of Wales and France which brought tremendous boost to our rugby. Queensland played five matches.
It won three and lost two. Its defeat came from Suva 12-11, a very exciting game, and Nadroga 8-6.
The visitors defeated Rewa 17-3, beat Nadi 14-13 and Lautoka 17-13, for 65 points against 49. The last team to tour Australia was in 1969 led by Epi Bolawaqatabu, who just returned from Queensland after the 1968 season and having played for the state side against the British Lions and France.
He missed out of the Wallaby trials because of his studies. Epi led the side which took part in the 1969 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby.
The inclusion of a short tour of Australia while the touring team passed through was worthwhile.
The Wallabies were away touring South Africa when Fiji thoroughly beat the first fifteen players who remained in Australia at Brisbane by 26-3.
The win was a played a huge part in developing rugby union in Fiji as many more youths started to play rugby after hearing of this historic win.
