The Fiji Times

‘Master-servant’: McLennan whacks New Zealand Super Rugby plan

SYDNEY,10 JULY 2020 (SMH) – Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan delivered a scathing assessment of New Zealand plans to limit Australia to two or three teams in a trans-Tasman competition, calling the dynamic between the nations “master-servant” as negotiations heat up over the future of Super Rugby. McLennan paid tribute to the longstanding ties between...

Blues avoid mind games with the Crusaders

Rugby fans won’t get to see the sight of Dan Carter playing against the Crusaders this weekend afterall. Carter who won three Super Rugby titles during his time with Christchurch based side hasn’t been named in the Blues squad for the top of the table Super Rugby Aotearoa clash on Saturday night. Carter signed with...

Whetukamokamo Douglas: The power in a name

Whetukamokamo Douglas is a Crusader and a Māori All Black, who’s taken his famous name from the East Coast to Italy to Christchurch. “I’m named after one of my great ancestors from back home (Ngati Porou, East Coast), and I’m very proud to carry the name.” Douglas, of Ngāti Porou and Te Arawa, Ngāti Whakaue,...

Namosi expects tough clash with Tailevu

Namosi expects Tailevu to be no walk in the park when the two provincial giants clash in their opening round of the Skipper Cup competition later this month. “Tailevu is always a tough side to play against,” said Namosi Rugby Union chairman Tui Saladoka. “They have been preparing for some time and have very committed...

Second Tongan application for International Rugby League membership

NUKU’ALOFA, 09 JULY 2020 (TONGA WIRES) – Another organisation hoping to become Tonga’s recognized national rugby league governing body, has applied for full membership of the International Rugby League (IRL). According to the Asia Pacific Rugby League, they have received the second new application and will review it initially before a recommendation is made to...

Australia-only option on table as NZ play hard ball over Super Rugby

SYDNEY, 09 JULY 2020 (SMH) – Australia is contemplating a Big Bash-style domestic rugby competition dotted with international names as New Zealand attitudes appear to harden against a five-team Australian presence next year. Despite reports on Wednesday a New Zealand Rugby review favoured a trans-Tasman replacement for Super Rugby in 2021, Australian officials were alarmed...

Super Rugby: Australian, Pacific Island stars back proposed ‘Aratipu’ reform

WELLINGTON, 09 JULY 2020 (NEWSHUB)–Wallabies and Polynesian greats have backed calls for Super Rugby to move to a trans-Tasman format – plus a team from the Pacific Islands – as the competition stares down major changes from next year. On Tuesday, Newshub revealed that format was one of the key recommendations in the draft ‘Aratipu’...

Wallabies remain upbeat about All Blacks encounter

New Wallabies coach Dave Rennie remains confident his first international assignment will be against the All Blacks in Wellington in October despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Officially a week into his latest role, the former Chiefs coach is still a month away form being able to join his new team on the training pitch in Australia....

All Black jersey awaits Hoskins Sotutu

Breakout Blues star Hoskins Sotutu has added further weight to indications his international future lies in an All Blacks jersey. The 21-year-old No 8 has been a standout performer in Super Rugby this year, his rapid rise thrusting him into conversations concerning the selection of the next New Zealand squad. Sotutu is not only eligible...

Nacebe on 7s radar

Former Fiji Drua flyhalf Peceli Nacebe is on Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber’s selection radar. The Nadroga lad was injected into the training squad a few weeks ago when Baber saw the potential that could be the X-factor in his team to the Olympic Games. “Nacebe is a talented athlete with great speed and good...

Mind games start

Farebrother Trophy defending champion Nadroga, focuses on players’ wellbeing in the midst of preparation towards the first round of provincial rugby competition. The first round of the Skipper Cup competition will be a double-header between Nadroga and Suva. The mind games have started with the Capital City side already looking forward to a historical win...

Fiji 7s coach extends contract until Tokyo Olympics

Fiji men’s sevens coach Gareth Baber will lead the team at next year’s Tokyo Olympics after agreeing a new contract with the Fiji Rugby Union. The Welshman’s original four-year deal was scheduled to end in December but, with the 2020 Olympics delayed by 12 months because of Covid-19, the FRU has extended his deal until...

English RFU lay off 139 staff

England rugby will lay off 139 positions because it expects to lose £107 million pounds ($NZ203 million) in revenue in the short term. The Rugby Football Union will begin consulting with staff before announcing the redundancies at the end of August, chief executive Bill Sweeney said on Monday (Tuesday NZ time). “To ensure we have...

Ministry to improve service and sports

The Ministry of Youth and Sport unveiled a new logo on Friday at the home of former national 7s captain, Paula Dranisinukula at Navuniivi Village in Ra with Minister Parveen Kumar saying it was an historic event. “Until such time the ministry will be there and we won’t be there, but those who will be...

Hurricanes relieved to open account as huge Highlanders game awaits

The Hurricanes are praising an improved attitude for their crucial Super Rugby Aotearoa win over the Chiefs, as another vital match stares them in the face this weekend. After being well outplayed in a 30-20 loss to the Blues and then a 39-25 defeat to the Crusaders over the first two rounds, the men from the capital came out of...

Plans to help FRU

The new Fiji Rugby Union board came in with a vision to lift the image of the Fiji Rugby Union not only domestically, but internationally. This was how FRU chairman Francis Kean saw the changes that were implemented when he took over the role in 2015. “We invested in a consultant to assist us in...

McCaw ‘greatest of all time’

Richie McCaw has been dubbed “quite possibly the greatest rugby player of all time’’ by former British and Irish Lions coach Sir Ian McGeechan, who named him alongside five other All Blacks in his Dream Team. McCaw, No 8 Zinzan Brooke and hooker Sean Fitzpatrick were the three All Blacks forwards selected by McGeechan, who...

Gatland’s wet-weather worries

Chiefs coach Warren Gatland doesn’t know what he’s done to agitate the weather gods, but yet another Super Rugby Aotearoa match for his side is shaping as a wet-weather contest. Rain is forecast to develop in Hamilton on Sunday afternoon, just in time for the Chiefs’ hosting of the Hurricanes at FMG Stadium Waikato (kickoff...

Crusaders overpower Highlanders

The Crusaders machine sits at the top of the Super Rugby Aotearoa ladder with a blockbuster against the Blues in store in Christchurch next Saturday. In front of another bumper crowd of 19,875 at Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Crusaders prevailed 40-20 against the Highlanders on Saturday to cement their position as the team to beat....

War of words: Nadroga, Suva prepare for double-header

You can call it “war of words” but for Suva and Nadroga, July 25 will mark another highlight in the Fiji Rugby Union calendar. Suva Rugby Union secretary Tevita Tuiloa said the Skipper Cup holder’s aim was to wrest the prestigious Farebrother Trophy from holders Nadroga next fortnight in their double-header match at Lawaqa Park...

Skipper Cup: Suva’s priority

The Skipper Cup holders, Suva rugby team, has made it their priority to wrest the prestigious Farebrother Trophy from holders Nadroga in the next fortnight at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. The capital side has made it its mission to keep the Skipper Cup for three years in a row and its is confident of accomplishing...

‘Old War Horses’ bond and support for provincial team

Former Nadroga rugby players from the 1970s to date continue to bond and meet every week with one goal and that is to build a foundation of brotherhood and supporting their sons and brothers who will be representing the province in the Skipper and Farebrother championships. Known as the Old War Horses of Nakuruvarua, the...

Reds finally beat Waratahs in tough showdown

Queensland Reds’ next wave have lifted an 11-year curse off the Super Rugby club and kick-started a new chapter in the rivalry after a tough 32-26 defeat of NSW Waratahs to launch Super Rugby AU on Friday. The Reds hadn’t beaten the Waratahs since 2013 and, cruising at 19-7 it looked like they suddenly remembered...

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