THE FIJI Water Flying Fijians have laid down a solid foundation during their recent northern tour, signaling strong progress as they prepare for the Nations Cup and beyond.
Head coach Mick Byrne reflected on the team’s development this year, pointing to key moments that have boosted confidence.
“One of the highlights for us this year was our July window, where we didn’t get a lot of training time together, and we put in a good performance against Australia,” Byrne said.
Although narrowly missing out, the team bounced back to defeat Scotland and clinched the Pacific Nations Cup, which Byrne described as “a good start to our year”.
The Flying Fijians have shown they can compete with tier-one nations, with Byrne recalling closely contested matches against England and France.
“Simi’s try that was disallowed under the post would have put us in front against England there with a lot of the game behind us. And then 21 all against France, we were in good shape there,” he said.
Looking ahead, Byrne expressed confidence in the squad’s leadership.
“The captaincy of our team is in great hands with Tevita. He’s a genuinely real man, and as I’ve said many times, that’s what we’re looking for.”
While the first game is not until July, Byrne acknowledged there is a lot of rugby to be played between now and then offering players ample opportunity to prepare.
The northern tour has been a vital step forward for the Flying Fijians, blending experienced coaching with strong team performances as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
