Rugby
1st April
Rugby – No switch to dates for Lions tour despite Olympics clash
CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – The British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa in July 2021 will not be shifted despite a direct overlap with the new dates for the Tokyo Olympic Games that were...
31st March
Hospital beds replace astroturf at Welsh rugby stadium
LLANELLI, Wales (Reuters) – Workers were laying floors and connecting electricity sockets on an expanse of astroturf on Monday as they raced to create a hospital for patients with COVID-19 inside a Welsh professional rugby team’s training facility. With the sporting calendar blank for an indefinite period due to a national lockdown, the Scarlets have...
Feeney favours Fiji team
FORMER Fiji rugby assistant coach Paul Feeney is calling for the Fiji 7s team to keep its playing style as they prepare for delayed 2020 Olympic Games in Japan. The games have been postponed to probably next July because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Feeney, who helped former Fiji coach Wayne Pivac win the 2005 Rugby...
USA Rugby in limbo
USA Rugby had to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as the COVID-19 sporting shutdown has tipped their already precarious financial position over the edge. The organisation announced via a press release its intent to file for bankruptcy “as a result of compounded and insurmountable financial constraints”. “The current suspension of sanctioned rugby activities caused by...
Time to pay back to the sport that save players
Fijians in the Highlanders team are simply fortunate to be in an industry that has a chance of surviving the coronavirus crisis, says head coach Aaron Mauger. The former Crusaders and All Black midfielder delivered a much-needed dose of realism to the deep pay cuts coming in rugby. Jona Nareki, Kiri Kuridrani and Tevita Nabura...
Veidreyaki: Tokyo Games deferment a blessing in disguise
Former Fiji 7s coach Peni Veidreyaki says the deferment of the Tokyo Olympics is a blessing in disguise for national coach Gareth Baber in his bid to defend the Olympics gold medal. Veidreyaki said it was time for the coach to formulate a winning combination. He said with the current health and safety situation because...
Sports events around the world hit by coronavirus pandemic
(Reuters) – Major sports events around the world that have been hit by the coronavirus pandemic: OLYMPICS – The International Olympic Committee and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded the Tokyo 2020 Olympics must be postponed and held no later than the summer of 2021. OLYMPIC TRIALS – U.S. trials for wrestling (April 4-5) were...
30th March
FASANOC works closely with sporting organisations
FIJI Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee chief executive officer Lorrain Mar says they are working closely with national federations in the country as to how they might adapt to training during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The national federations are the experts for their sport, so FASANOC will consult and be guided by the NF...
29th March
Nadolo ready, focuses on fatherhood
GIANT Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo and his wife Kim are expecting the arrival of their baby boy any time soon. The 32-year-old who recently have signed a two-year deal with Leicester Tiger next season after agreeing to terms with the club, is overwhelmed with excitement as he awaits the arrival of his first born. “Rugby...
Players miss families
ALL is well as five Fijian players in Italy are taking things one day at a time trying to survive as they are in lockdown because of the rising number of deaths affected by COVID 19. Samuela Vunisa, Paula Balekana, Apisai Tauyavuca, Iliesa Ratuva and Henry Seniloli are missing their families back home and have...
28th March
Minimbi sets his rugby dream
A rugby rising star has found inspiration in the success of some Fijian rugby greats amid the global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the cancellation of Fijian sports, Fiji Warriors squad member, former Fiji under-20 rep, Pacific Combine squad member and former Marist Brothers High School head boy and dux, Chris Minimbi is clinging...
Fuli offers positive tone
FORMER national 7s rep and Fijiana 7s coach Saiasi Fuli is of the firm belief that the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games is a wise decision. “That’s the best decision for all countries made by the IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan,” the Army’s Sukuna Bowl winning coach said. “This...
27th March
Baber supports Olympic Games call
FIJI 7s coach Gareth Baber has supported the decision made by the International Olympics Committee to postpone the 2020 Olympic Games because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Baber explained how important it is to give everyone the opportunity to look after their loved ones during this difficult time. “As a team we respect the decision because...
Fiji Kava inks deal with Fiji Rugby
MEDICINAL kava health and wellness company Fiji Kava has inked a three year partnership to be the exclusive kava supplier for Fiji Rugby and the grassroots community. “Representing Fiji is one of the proudest moments for our players, however competing against the world’s best teams on a regular basis does present quite significant physical and...
Fuli supports games postponement
FORMER national 7s rep and Fijiana 7s coach Saiasi Fuli is of the firm belief that the postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games is a wise decision. “That’s the best decision for all countries made by the IOC and the Prime Minister of Japan,” the Army’s Sukuna Bowl winning coach said. “This...
26th March
‘As a player I have goals to achieve’
FIJI 7s rep Josua Vakurinabili is making adjustments with his training program despite the Olympic Games cancellation and the postponement of the World Rugby Sevens Series because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vakurinabili married his sweetheart Sereima Taiji last week. Today he is a proud father after the birth of his son Ratu Luke Vidovi last...
Fiji’s Olympic title defence postponed for a year
SUVA, 26 MARCH 2020 (RUGBY PASS) – Fiji will have to wait an extra year to defend their Olympic Sevens title after Tokyo Games officials decided to postpone the event until summer 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Fijians charged to glory in the Rio heat when the 2016 Olympics were held in Brazil,...
COVID-19: Kaiviti Silktails pay players’ allowance
The Kaiviti Silktails players have been paid out their allowances until the end of this month. The Silktails disbanded its training camp in Lautoka after the Government implemented a lockdown in the Sugar City in response to the confirmed cases of COVID-19 last week. The Silktails had set up its centre of excellence along Tui...
25th March
Fiji 7s team players in isolation, wait for decision
THE Fiji 7s team will continue to have their individual training sessions in isolation until the Fiji Rugby Union confirms the cancellation of the Japan Olympic Games. Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 hindering all large gatherings, events and international sports events, the Fiji 7s players in the World Rugby Sevens Series will continue to train...
