The Fiji Times

Nale savours rugby calling

Former Marist Brothers High School student Jerome Nale has been named in the USA Eagles side for the Toulouse 7s this weekend. Coach Mike Friday announced a mixed lineup of experienced campaigners and youngsters with the 22 year-old Vadravadra, Ba lad in the side. He was part of the Eagles squad earlier in the series...

Cakobau Park work yet to be completed

Works at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori is not complete yet, Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar said while speaking during the opening of the 143rd Girmit carnival in Nausori . She said other pavilions at the park needed to be fixed. She said the park was closed due to damage caused by tropical...

Fiji 7s gives back

The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s squad members will engage in more community work in a bid to give back to the community. Last week, the national team took time out from their hectic training schedule to do some community work in Sigatoka. The players were present at the Sigatoka hospital to where they dismantled some...

7s oomph! – Kunatani, Bolaca to boost confidence levels

Fiji Airways Fiji 7s skipper Tevita Daugunu expects the inclusion of Semi Kunatani and Napolioni Bolaca to boost the confidence level of the players for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments in Toulouse and London. Kunatani marks his return in the abbreviated code after a lapse of five years while Bolaca has been drafted...

‘Write your names on stone’

Fijian Drua captain Meli Derenalagi told his players to write their names on stones and not on sand when they faced the Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby Pacific last Saturday. Derenalagi said the match was a historic one and the players were reminded of the stakes. “I just motivated them and tried to tell them...

Special day for Pacific

The historical clash between two of the newest Super Rugby Pacific teams, the Fijian Drua and the Moana Pasifika will be cherished by those who were part of it. The Drua beat the Moana Pasifika 34-19 on Saturday night. Swire Shipping Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said it was a special day for everyone. “It...

Short turn around time for next game

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side will have a short turn around before they face the mighty Crusaders in its next match in the Super Rugby Pacific this week. Fijian Drua coach Mick Byrne said the Crusaders would have followed the Drua’s match against Moana Pasifika last Saturday. “It’s a short turn around and you...

Boys were hungry for win, says Derenalagi

The 67-5 loss to the Hurricanes last week was a turning point for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side. Team captain Meli Derenalagi said the loss inspired him team to come out stronger against the Moana Pasifika. “The boys were hungry for this game because of the upset last week, so this few days that...

Skipper Cup: Midfield combo wins for Tailevu

The Tailevu midfield combination of Poasa Domonakibau and Adriu Nayaga stood out for the home side in their 17-12 victory over Northland in the Skipper Cup round 7 local derby at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday. Coach Samisoni Baikeitoga said in his line-up, he had Domonakibau come in the second half. “Poasa is one of our key...

Pacific battle: Fijian Drua scores big win

The Swire Shipping-sponsored Fijian Drua team travels to New Zealand this week with heads held high after scoring their second victory in the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific competition yesterday. They will meet 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa champion Crusaders in Christchurch this week after a clinical 34-19 historic win against fellow debutante Moana Pasifika at the CommBank...

Skipper Cup: Nadroga defeats Namosi; hosts Suva next weekend

The Nadroga rugby side beat Namosi 32-29 in the Skipper Cup competition at Thomson Park in Navua today. Nadroga scored four first-half tries to Namosi’s one to lead 25-5 at the break. It was all Namosi in the first 35 minutes of the second spell as they dominated all facets of play. Four unanswered second-half...

Fijian Drua looks for new CEO

The Fijian Drua has advertised for the position of chief executive officer (CEO). A statement from the club said the search for the new CEO would be conducted by independent executive search firm Odgers Berndston. It stated the potential candidate would lead the club to newer heights and position it as one of the most...

Former Samoa sevens star Kelly Meafua died from drowning after jumping into river

Former Samoa sevens international Kelly Meafua died from drowning after jumping into a river after his team’s celebrations in the French town of Montauban, an autopsy has revealed. Meafua died, aged 31, last Saturday (NZ time) after jumping off a bridge following Montauban’s 48-40 win over Narbonne in their final home match in French rugby’s Pro D2, the...

Super move – AG: Certian conditions to get Drua set up

Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says certain conditions came with the setting up of the Fijian Drua franchise, one of which its affairs would be run separately from Fiji Rugby. Speaking in Parliament this week, Sayed Khaiyum said the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) did not want Super Rugby teams handled by the rugby...

Fijiana Drua team ‘welcomed’

Rumours that the Fijiana Drua were not accorded the welcome they deserve upon their return to the country last Sunday have been rubbished by the Sports Minister Parveen Kumar. He told Parliament that it was unfortunate that this kind of misinformation was based on lack of fact-checking. Kumar said Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer...

Drua-Chiefs tickets selling fast

Tickets to the Fijian Drua and Chiefs Super Rugby Pacific match at Churchill Park are selling fast. According to Swire Shipping Fijian Drua chief executive officer Brian Thorburn, about 3000 tickets for the May 28 clash were sold or allocated in the first two days of public sales since Monday. While happy with the response,...

Fijiana to meet fans

Rugby fans will get a chance to meet members of the champion Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua team at Churchill Park in Lautoka later this month. The Fijiana Drua, which won the Super W competition in Australia last month, will make a special appearance during the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua...

Tough away match for unbeaten Naitasiri

Rugby padre Reverend Joji Rinakama says Naitasiri will need to lift the tempo of its game when it takes on Nadi in a Skipper Cup round 7 match at Prince Charles Park on Saturday. Rinakama coached Naitasiri in the late 1990s and early 2000 before taking up the post of Flying Fijians assistant coach to...

‘Nems’ up for selection – Nagusa excited about playing after completing suspension period

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua captain Nemani Nagusa is up for selection this week against Moana Pasifika after completing a three-week suspension for dangerous play. Nagusa was handed the suspension following his red card in the Super Rugby Pacific round 7 loss to the Waratahs on April 1. The 33-year-old was sent off after his late...

3000 Drua games tickets sold

CLose to 3000 tickets have been sold or allocated in the first two days of public sales for the epic Round 15 Super Rugby Pacific clash in Lautoka between the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua and the Chiefs. Fijian Drua CEO Brian Thorburn said they were delighted with the response from the fans in the West...

Suva slowly finding its form

The Ram Sami Suva rugby side wants to end the first round of the Skipper Cup competition on a high when it faces Rewa this weekend. Suva is on a three-match winning run with Nadroga being their latest prey. Suva beat Nadroga 21-18 in the last round at the ANZ Stadium last Saturday. The defending...

AOG to work on fitness

As secondary school sports slowly returns, the Assemblies of God High school under-17 rugby league team players are focused on bringing their fitness up to par. Coach Ratu Nawi Rokodulu said students had looked forward to when school sports would begin after the Government announced the relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions earlier this year. “When the...

Rugby

Matera keeps Argentine flag flying in Super Rugby

17th May