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Rugby
Search continues for Fijiana Drua coach
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua head coach will be announced in a few weeks’ time. Fiji Rugby Union interim CEO Tevita Tuiloa said there was a good mixture of coaches who had applied. “It’s not...
Fijiana Drua raises preparation for Super W; Rasolea joins
THE Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua has raised its preparation level for the Super W competition as defending champions. Interim coach Inoke Male said this year’s competition against the top State teams from Australia would be tough. The squad has been in camp the past few weeks as it prepares for defence. “This will be a...
Ravouvou to join Bristol Bears
Flying Fijians backline utility Kalaveti Ravouvou has confirmed his move to Europe to join Bristol Bears for the 2023/2024 Premiership season. He is expected to join the Bears after the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s 2023 Shop n Save Super Rugby Pacific campaign. Ravouvou announced his move on the official Bristol Bears website yesterday. The 24-year-old,...
Gollings remain upbeat on chances
Ben Gollings says he is confident the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s team can return to winning ways on the 2022-23 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Sitting in fifth place after five outings and with six tournament remaining, Fiji is yet to register a win this season with the best finish in Hong Kong last...
Police yet to charge Fijian Drua player
The Fiji Police Force says investigations into an alleged assault case involving a former star Fijian Drua player is ongoing. According to police, the player has not been charged despite the Fijian Drua terminating his contract with immediate effect because of a “high-level breach of the club’s code of conduct”. “A report was lodged on...
Back to basics: Gollings work on consistency and retention
Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s head coach Ben Gollings says while he is disappointed with the team’s past results on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, he is confident they can change things around in the next few tournaments. After finishing as runners up at the Hong Kong 7s last November, the side has failed...
Rasolea to play for Fijiana Drua in Super W competition
Fiji women’s XVs tight-head prop Siteri Rasolea will play for the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua during the Super W competition. Rasolea was a standout performer for the Fijiana side during the Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand last year and was named in the team for the tournament. Born in Australia, Rasolea will try...
Rugby-Lock Retallick joins All Blacks exodus to Japan
(Reuters) – Brodie Retallick will join the growing list of All Blacks heading to Japan after the Rugby World Cup in France, with the New Zealand lock having signed up for a second stint with the Kobelco Steelers. Retallick’s 2024 plans were confirmed on Wednesday, a day after veteran All Black backs Aaron Smith and...
Rugby-Cockerill to leave England position, Wigglesworth new assistant coach
(Reuters) -England forwards coach Richard Cockerill will leave his role after the end of the Six Nations in March, while Richard Wigglesworth would join the side as new assistant coach, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Tuesday. The 52-year-old Cockerill will take the same position at French club Montpellier. Cockerill was the only remaining...
8th February
Rugby-Jones cleared to play for Wales against Scotland
(Reuters) – Wales second row Alun Wyn Jones will be available to face Scotland in the Six Nations tie at Murrayfield on Saturday, despite coach Warren Gatland having ruled him out after the 34-10 loss to Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday. Gatland told reporters Jones had failed a Head Injury Assessment, which would see him...
Fijian Drua present i-tatau to the President
Members of the Fijian Drua Super Rugby side presented their i-tatau to the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, at the State House in Suva today. The Fijian Drua will play the Moana Pasifika in its first match at MT Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand on February 25, 2023. Ratu Wiliame congratulated the players for making...
Arundell and Slade back for England against Italy in Six Nations
(Reuters) – England have called up Henry Arundell and centre Henry Slade for the Six Nations clash with Italy on Sunday at Twickenham after both have struggled with injuries. Both players were included in England coach Steve Borthwick’s 36-player squad announced on Monday. Winger Cadan Murley was also left out, having not made the cut...
Ravouvou to join Bristol Bears – report
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua backline utility Kalaveti Ravouvou is believed to be heading to the UK to join the Bristol Bears for the 2023/2024 Gallagher Premiership Rugby season. According to Bristol Live, Bears director of rugby Pat Lam had secured the signature of Ravouvou who was one of the breakout stars of the Shop N...
Coach Gollings to find balance; Wary of physical and mental wear on players
The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s head coach Ben Gollings is working on ways to get the right balance so certain senior players are not worn out during tournaments on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series (WRSS). Gollings has rectified that a quote from an interview last week was taken out of context where it...
Fijian Drua fires Habosi
Fijian flyer Vinaya Habosi has had his contract with the Fijian Drua scrapped because of a breach of the club’s code of conduct. The announcement was made late yesterday, ending the 23-year-old’s association with the franchise. “The Fijian Drua today confirmed that player Vinaya Habosi has had his contract terminated with immediate effect, due to...
Sevens squad hit the grounds
The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s team hit the training paddocks early this morning with a session at Albert Park in Suva. Present at the ground was former Fiji 7s Player Sireli Bobo, who helped out with the training. The squad is preparing for the Los Angeles and Vancouver 7s tournaments.
7th February
Fijian Drua terminates Habosi’s contract
The Fijian Drua has terminated the contract of one of its star players in Vinaya Habosi. The franchise said Habosi, 23, was let go because of a “high-level” breach of the club’s code of conduct. “The decision was made after careful consideration, and full due process was accorded to Vinaya throughout the process,” the club...
7s approach – FRU takes drastic measures to help men’s team
Fiji Rugby Union has set up an initiative to help Ben Gollings prepare his side well ahead of the Las Vegas, USA and Vancouver, Canada 7s tournaments. After a dismal performance at the last HSBC World Rugby Series leg — Hamilton, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia — Rugby House has taken a serious approach to...
Following footsteps – Rugby in the blood as Tuqiri aims for national jumper
Many young people grow up trying to discover their identity and what they aspire to be or achieve in life. That was not so for Emosi Tuqiri. His destiny was almost predetermined, so to speak, as he was born into a family of ruggers. The 22-year-old is one of the three latest inclusions into the...
Nauru works on gender equality
The Nauru Rugby inclusion impact program has its eyes set on having a first women’s and strengthening conditioning coach. Operations manager Jone Caginilotu said the inclusivity of the program had seen an improvement with 16 women in Nauru achieving their level one coaching certificate. Caginilotu said it’s compulsory that they had equal representation of women....
Borthwick says England ‘weren’t good at anything’ when he took charge
(Reuters) – England’s new coach Steve Borthwick said the team “weren’t good at anything” when he took over from Eddie Jones and that they would have to improve in several departments after losing their Six Nations opener to Scotland on Saturday. Borthwick, who was appointed in December after Jones was sacked, saw his side beaten...
6th February
PM recalls playing days
Prime Minister Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka expects more star players to be produced from Nawaka Village, who will take Fiji rugby to greater heights. Rabuka was the special guest during the closing ceremony of the 36th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s tournament at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on Saturday. The former Flying Fijians rep said over...
Holmes tastes Fijian hospitality
Black Ferns fullback Renee Holmes described the athleticism of the local rugby players as ‘crazy’ after witnessing the 36th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s tournament in Nadi last Saturday. The 2021 Rugby World Cup gold medalist also teamed up with Nadi based club Nadraki Lilian White as their water carrier in the tournament. Holmes said she...
We should have won but it’s a work in progress, says Borthwick
LONDON (Reuters) – New coach Steve Borthwick said England should not have allowed a 20-12 lead over Scotland slip to a 29-23 Twickenham defeat on Saturday but said he saw enough positive signs to believe his rebuilding job is already on the right track. After two tries for Max Malins and one from Ellis Genge,...
Wales coach Gatland finds positives in comprehensive loss to Ireland
CARDIFF (Reuters) – Wales coach Warren Gatland insisted there are “a lot of positives” for his side despite their comprehensive home 34-10 defeat to Ireland in the Six Nations opener at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. Wales were outmuscled up front and outscored by four tries to one as Ireland cantered to victory to spoil...
Eddie who? Ex-coach erased from England media centre wall
LONDON (Reuters) – Eddie Jones may have had the best win percentage of any England coach, led the team to a Six Nations Grand Slam and a World Cup final but the Australian has been quietly erased from the RFU’s England rugby media collage at Twickenham. One wall of the stadium’s media work room has...
France can cope in Six Nations despite injuries, says Dupont
ROME (Reuters) – France captain Antoine Dupont is confident Les Bleus will overcome a series of injuries as they start their Six Nations campaign with an away game against Italy on Sunday. France are without Francois Cros, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere and Cameron Woki as they seek a second triumph in a row following their...
5th February
Fijian rugby star: Andrew’s rugby journey from Natabuquto to Oxford
Great athletes stay humble. They may get catapulted to the pinnacle of success but always remain grounded. This is what makes Fijian rugby star, Andrew Durutalo so unique. The Tailevu man has plied his trade locally and internationally, with a relentless pursuit of excellence but he has never called attention to himself. He added another...
Rugby-Ireland’s early burst sets up 34-10 Six Nations win in Wales
CARDIFF (Reuters) -Clinical Ireland scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes and cruised to a 34-10 bonus-point victory over Wales to spoil coach Warren Gatland’s welcome home party in the Six Nations opener at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday. Ireland bulldozed the Welsh in the first quarter as they dominated the collisions...
Nawaka 7s: Maya stamps mark in officiating circles
Taveuni native Keresi Maya is stamping his mark in the officiating circles after being handed a six year ban for punching a referee as a player during an under-19 match in 2020. Maya was given a new lease of life by the Suva Rugby Referees Association and Tailevu Rugby Referees Association when he made his...
