The Fiji Times

Baber on the mend

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team coach Gareth Baber is on the comeback trail after winning the South Africa 7s in Cape Town yesterday. His side beat USA in the Cup final and Fiji’s first title victory in the start of the 2018-2019 World Rugby Sevens Series. Baber, after the final, showed that he is...

NZ title defence

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team will defend its New Zealand 7s title in Hamilton next month. After the splendid performance in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday after beating USA 29-15 in the cup final, the Gareth Baber-coached national side is looking ahead to a successful trip to the Waikato region on January 26 –...

Fijians show glimpse of gold in win

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team showed its glipmse of old in South Africa yesterday to win the Cape Town 7s. Fiji clawed its way back to the top three after beating USA 29-15 in the cup final yesterday morning. The Gareth Baber-coached team broke the hearts of Blitzbok 7s fans in the semi-finals when...

Fiji drawn in Pool A of Hamilton 7s

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side has been drawn in Pool A of the Hamilton 7s, which is the next tournament in the current World Sevens Series. The Cape Town 7s champions will face Australia, Argentina, and Wales in Pool A. USA heads pool B and will face England, Samoa and an invitational team. Pool C has...

Skipper Nasoko leads team by action

FIJI Airways Fiji 7s team captain Kalione Nasoko is leading his team by action and not words only. He displayed a great leadership style when the team defeated USA 29-15 in the final of the Capetown 7s tournament in South Africa. The 28-year-old led by example in the final, scoring two tries that helped maintain the momentum...

Fiji wins Cape Town 7s after 13-year drought

“EDA sa qaqa….we have overcome.” This is a well-known hymn that is often sung by local clubs and national 7s reps in a rugby sevens tournament internationally and locally after a match, despite a win or a loss. After 13 years since the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team won a tournament in South Africa, tears of joy...

Nasoko and Naduva make HSBC dream team

TWO Fiji Airways Fiji 7s players made the Dream Team of the Cape Town 7s. Captain Kalione Nasoko and speedman Alosio Naduva made the best 7s players of the tournament. Also in the team were USA’s Madison Hughes, Danny Barrett, Samoa’s David Afamasaga, New Zealand’s Sione Molia and South African Rosko Specman. Meanwhile, the next...

USA surprise leader on World Sevens Series points table

THE USA side is the surprise leader at the top of the World Sevens Series points table after the first two tournaments. Having reached the finals of the Dubai and Cape Town 7s tournaments, USA leads the standing with 38 points. Dubai 7s winners New Zealand are in second spot with 37 points after finishing...

HSBC 7s Series: Fiji wins Cape Town 7s

FIJI Airways national men’s sevens rugby team has broken a 13 year drought to win the HSBC Cape Town 7s. The side defeated USA 29-15 in the final. The last time Fiji won the tournament was in 2005. The win puts the side in third place with 35 points behind USA (38points) and New Zealand...

HSBC 7s Series: Fiji beats South Africa to book final with USA

FIJI will play USA in the final of the HSBC Cape Town 7s after bundling out hosts South Africa 17-12 in their semi final match. The side won the match in the last 30 seconds following a South African knock on at halfway. Scrum to Fiji and speedster Alosio Naduva went through running around two...

HSBC 7s: Fiji books semi final spot

FIJI Airways national men’s sevens rugby team has reached the cup semi final of the HSBC Cape Town 7s for the first time in eight years. This after the side ran in eight tries to beat Spain 46-7. Fiji will play hosts South Africa at 3.34am Fiji time today. Fiji’s tries came from Waisea Nacuqu,...

Cape Town 7s: Fiji likely to meet South Africa again

A REPEAT of last week’s fifth place battle is likely to happen during the semi-final stage of the cup competition at the Cape Town 7s today. The Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team beat South Africa in Dubai last week to claim fifth place and a win for both teams in the quarters will see them...

Cape Town 7s: New reps top try scorers after day one

NEW 7s reps Ratu Meli Derenalagi and Aminiasi Tuimaba are joint top try scorers with nippy Jerry Tuwai after the completion of HSBC World Rugby South Africa 7s pool games. They have scored three tries each totaling to Fiji’s 16 tries after Day One. Another new rep Filimoni Botitu also registered his name on the...

Tuimaba will be one of the stars at 7s series: Golea

NEW 7s flyer Aminiasi Tuimaba will be one of the stars at this year’s HSBC World Sevens Series, says former Fiji Bati rep Lagilagi Golea. He said the Yasawa speedster has slowly gained confidence and needed few more top level exposures to be the best. Golea said Tuimaba also went through some good coaching before...

12 provinces confirmed for National Girls Provisional 7s tourney

THE Fiji Rugby Union in conjunction with UN Women will host the second annual National Girls Provisional 7s tournament at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park this Wednesday. According to a report by FRU, 32 teams from 12 provinces will take part in the tournament. The tournament is expected to see a mix of tag rugby and...

Cape Town 7s: Fiji to meet Spain in cup quarters

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team will play Spain in the Cup-quarter-finals of the Cape Town 7s tonight. This after Fiji finished top of its group winning all three matches. Fiji made a blistering start thumping France 50-nil in their tournament opener. The Gareth Baber coached side then accounted for Kenya 38-7. It was a...

Tuwai scores 100th try as the Fijians run riot

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side started its 2018-2019 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Cape Town 7s campaign on a high note running riot over France, winning 50-0 during their opening match last night. The Kalione Nasoko-captained side was on top of their game from the opening whistle to show they meant business in the...

HSBC 7s Series: Fiji beats Kenya

FIJI Airways national men’s sevens rugby team defeated Kenya 38-7 in its second pool match of the HSBC Cape Town 7s in South Africa. It earlier beat France 50-0. The side scored seven tries to Kenya’s one to clinch its second victory in the tournament. But while coach Gareth Baber stressed on discipline, Fiji’s Meli...

Tonga wins Oceania rugby trophy challenge

TONGA has won the 2018 Oceania Rugby Trophy Challenge. This after the Tongans beat hosts Samoa 27-20 in the second clash today. Samoa led 15-14 at half-time. Tonga had also won the first match 16-12 on Tuesday. Tonga now advances to the 2019 World Rugby Trophy Qualifiers.

HSBC 7s Series: Fiji thumps France, Tuwai celebrates 100th try

FIJI ran in eight tries and kept France scoreless to win its first pool game of the HSBC Cape Town 7s in South Africa. As Fiji celebrated its 50-0 victory, the match also saw former captain Jerry Tuwau score his 100th try in the series. Tuwau came in as a substitute in the second half...

CMF Baravi 7s: Ratu Filipe defeats Hideaway in cup final

RATU Filise won the CMF Baravi Sevens tournament today defeating Hideaway Hurricanes 17-5 in the cup final. The boys from Namatakula dominated the first half scoring three tries with a successful conversion while the resort based team managed to score their lone try in the second spell. Ratu Filise team captain Vio Batibasaga acknowledged the...

CMF Baravi 7s: Ratu Filise up against Hideaway in cup final

THE Ratu Filise and Hideaway Hurricanes rugby 7s teams are into the cup final of the CMF Baravi Sevens tournament at the Naviti ground in the Coral Coast. Both teams were undefeated in the two day tournament and are favourites to win the tournament. Ratu Filise lost in the final of the Raka 7s to...

Rugby World Magazine picks Nakarawa in best squad of 2018

“OFFLOAD king” Leone Nakarawa is the only Fijian to be named in the Rugby World Magazine’s team of 2018. According to reports by Suff.co, Nakarawa joined five All Blacks, four Irishmen, two from England and one each from Australia, South Africa and Wales to make up the best squad of 2018. Racing 92’s Nakarawa was...

Volavola believes 7s team can end 18-year-drought

FORMER national 7s rep Mosese Volavola believes the Fiji Airways national 7s team has what it takes to end Fiji’s 18-years title drought in South Africa. He said the Gareth Baber-coach side has a good mix of experience and young players. Volavola, who has tasted victory in South Africa, said the boys should not be...

Sewabu rates U20 players in Fiji 7s

FIJI Rugby Union’s newly appointed development manager and winning World Rugby under-20 coach Koli Sewabu graded the three new players in the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team as young, talented and humble with a brighter future in rugby. Sewabu coached the Fiji U20 team to victory in Romania early this year in the World Rugby...

No room for cards

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s men’s coach Gareth Baber has warned his players that he won’t tolerate indiscipline in Cape Town, South Africa this weekend in the second tournament of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Baber said lack of discipline affected team morale especially when Fiji was outnumbered during the critical stage of the...

Rugby with a cause

THE Nacavanadi rugby 7s tournament organisers have their own reason of reviving the tournament after 14 years. It is to prevent urban drift for village youths and make use of the resources around them. It has been more than a decade and the once renowned tournament has taken another step with a bigger picture for...

Mental fitness critical in 7s rugby: Lala

“MENTAL fitness is critical in the game of sevens rugby and Fiji needs to improve on this area in the next tournament.” These are the words of former Fiji 7s rep and Hideaway Hurricanes local 7s team trainer, Sirilo Lala. He believes it’s critical for players to remain mentally fit when pressured, especially in the...

$25k investment for Fiji Bitter Wairiki Sevens

ELEVEN years after its inception, the successful staging of the Fiji Bitter Wairiki Sevens has resulted in the continued support of Paradise Beverages Fiji Ltd. General manager Joseph Rodan said the tournament was well organised, resulting in the sponsorship over the past 11 years. “It’s well organised and we have seen how they have well...

Rugby

National Provincial Women’s Age Grade Championship kicks off tomorrow