The Fiji Times

Ireland captain Best to retire after World Cup in Japan

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ulster and Ireland captain Rory Best announced on Thursday his retirement from professional rugby after this year’s World Cup in Japan. “It is with mixed feelings that I announce my retirement from Ulster Rugby as of the end of this season,” the 36-year-old hooker, who had previously flagged up his likely international...

Australia’s Folau asks for code of conduct hearing

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Wallabies fullback Israel Folau has asked for a code of conduct hearing to be scheduled by Rugby Australia (RA) after the governing body said they intended to terminate his contract for controversial social media posts. The 30-year-old Folau, a devout Christian, was issued a code of conduct breach notice on Monday following...

Rugby: Galthie to take over as France coach after World Cup – report

PARIS (Reuters) – Former captain Fabien Galthie will become France coach after this year’s World Cup, French sports daily L’Equipe reported on Tuesday. Galthie, who skippered Les Bleus at the 2003 World Cup, will support current boss Jacques Brunel through this year’s tournament in Japan, the L’Equipe report added. The French rugby federation (FFR) was...

Silverwaters Tiliva 7s announces team line-up

ORGANISERS of the Silverwaters Tiliva 7s and Netball Festival today confirmed the announcement of the final line-up of teams. Twenty-four rugby 7s teams, led by Marist 7s 2019 champions Police, are expected to make for an exciting tournament. Other top teams include national 7s rep Terio Tamani’s 2017 Tiliva Champion side Niubuto Uro Kadavu. The...

Rugby: Saracens chide Vunipola for ‘liking’ Folau’s controversial post

(Reuters) – Saracens reprimanded Billy Vunipola and warned him about future conduct after he “liked” condemnatory comments about gay people and others by Australia fullback Israel Folau on social media. England number eight Vunipola was among some 30,000 Instagram users who “liked” the post by Folau, a fundamentalist Christian, saying “sinners” including drunks, atheists and...

Wales defence coach Edwards opts out of Wigan job

(Reuters) – Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards has reversed his decision to become Wigan Warriors head coach at the end of the season, the English Super League club said on Monday. The rugby league team announced last August that Edwards, 52, would be the new coach of his hometown club on a three-year contract after...

7s title chase – Fiji loses, still contention

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team is still contention to win the HSBC World Sevens Series title with two tournaments still to play in the current series. After losing to South Africa 20-19 in a tense final in Singapore last night, the Gareth Baber-coached side still retains its second spot in the points standings. Fiji...

Singapore 7s: Fiji loses to South Africa in the final

FIJI lost 19-20 to South Africa in a game that should have been theirs at the Singapore 7s. South Africa bounced back into the game after trailing Fiji 0-19 at half time The Blitzboks bounced back drawing first blood in the second half. They took advantage of Fiji being a man down with a yellow...

Singapore 7s: Fiji defeats NZ; secures semi-final spot against England

THE Fiji 7s team will meet England in the cup semi-finals of the Singapore7s after defeating New Zealand 19-5 in their quarterfinal match today. The Fijians led 12-5 until the dying seconds of the first-half despite a yellow card being flashed at Vilimoni Botitu The match was almost a repeat of last week’s pool game...

Champ in top form

EXPERIENCE made the difference when Skipper Cup defending champion Suva edged Tailevu 15-10 in the first round of the competition at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori yesterday. Both teams equally shared possession throughout the match but Suva had the experienced players in their backline such as John Stewart, Ratu Meli Kurisaru, and Enele Malele...

Champion beaten – Scots upset Fiji

SCOTLAND caused the first upset of the 2019 Singapore 7s when they defeated defending champion Fiji 19-12 in the second pool match last night. Scotland did not allow the Fijians to settle and scored the first try of the game to lead 5-0. Aminiasi Tuimaba replied for Fiji but Scotland added their second try to...

Singapore 7s: Fiji to play NZ in quarters

FIJI lost its second pool match 7-17 to South Africa but still qualified for the cup quarterfinal of the Singapore 7s And it will be a showdown with New Zealand at 2.14pm tomorrow Fiji’s lone try was scored by Livai Ikanikoda while South Africa scored three tries to Stedman Gans, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Werner Kok....

Singapore 7s: Fiji loses to Scotland

FIJI’S hopes of a repeat of last year’s back to back titles has become harder after its 12-17 loss to Scotland The Scots were determined from the beginning drawing first blood with a try to Max McFarland. The try was not converted and Fiji replied through Hong Kong 7s player of the final Aminiasi Tuimaba...

Skipper Cup: Suva defeats Tailevu in first round

THE Suva rugby team edged Tailevu 15-10 in the first round of the Skipper Cup competition at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori. Both teams scored two tries each but the difference came from the goal kickers where Suva’s fullback Enele Malele striked a penalty kick and a conversion and missed one but Tailevu fullback...

Vodafone Vanua Cup Challenge: Macuata beats Bua, 22-18

MACUATA beat Bua 22-18 at the end of their Vodafone Vanua Cup Challenge this afternoon in Bua. They will go on to meet Nasinu next week in Viti Levu. *More in tomorrow’s edition of The Sunday Times and on our e-edition. Download The Fiji Times app on Google Play Store and Apple Store for breaking...

Singapore 7s: Fiji wins first pool game against Canada, 50 – 12

FIJI began its campaign of the HSBC Singapore 7s title with a 50-12 victory over Canada at the National Stadium in Singapore a while ago. The Fiji Airways 7s side’s early points came from captain, Paula Dranisinukula in the 2nd minute, Meli Derenalagi in the 5th minute and Sevuloni Mocenacagi in the dying seconds before...

Vodafone Vanua Cup Challenge: Macuata lead Bua at half-time

MACUATA leads Bua 12-3 at the end of the first half as the two sides meet for their Vodafone Vanua Cup Challenge. Members of the public flocked into the venue of the match at Vuya Primary School grounds this afternoon despite the continuous rain currently being experienced within the province. Earlier the Macuata Women 10s...

Fiji 7s set focus on Singapore title

FIJI 7s coach Gareth Baber is focused on getting his players ready for the task at hand at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore this weekend. After the historic fifth consecutive title win in Hong Kong last weekend, Baber said he wanted his players to be focused for their next assignment Baber said...

Ratu in for Terio

UTILITY back Napolioni Ratu has found his way into the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s squad to feature at this weekend’s title defence at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Singapore 7s tournament. Head coach Gareth Baber has made only one change to his squad from Hong Kong last week with Ratu replacing Terio Tamani. “Napolioni...

Rugby Australia’s ‘position unchanged’ after Folau meeting

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Israel Folau had a meeting with Rugby Australia and the New South Wales Rugby Union to discuss his social media posts on Friday but the governing bodies said they still intended to terminate his contract. The 30-year-old fullback, one of Australia’s few genuinely world class players, was informed on Thursday he would...

Skipper Cup: Naitasiri narrowly wins over Namosi

The Naitasiri rugby team edged Namosi 24-21 to win the first round of the Skipper Cup competition at the Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori. Naitasiri scored four tries giving them a bonus while Namosi managed to score three tries. The halftime score was 17-7 to Naitasiri. Naitasiri coach Dr Ilaitia Tuisese Jr said his boys did...

Baber gives Ratu a chance as he names Singapore 7s squad

NAPOLIONI Ratu gets a chance this weekend as Fiji Airways Fiji 7s coach Gareth Baber has named him in his squad to feature in their title defence at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Singapore 7s tournament. “Napolioni is a young man who is blessed with talent,” Baber said. “We’ve worked together a lot, and...

Suva rugby extends partnership with Qaqa Jacks of Fiji

THE 2018 Skipper Cup champions Suva rugby union has extended their partnership with Qaqa Jacks of Fiji and is confident of extending their reign as champions this season. The defending champions of local rugby competitions received a boost of $39,458 grant towards their build-up in the competition that kicks off this evening. Suva men’s team...

Skipper Cup teams gear up

THE team captains of the 2019 Skipper Cup rugby competition are geared up for an epic season of provincial rugby this weekend after the major sponsor CJ Patel granted the Fiji Rugby Union $551,250 to assist the teams in the competition. Team captains of the eight provincial teams in the major union with their under-19...

Warning for Suva Rugby Union clubs

THE Suva Rugby Union is has confirmed that clubs that do not pay their affiliation fees by this Saturday will not be allowed to play any further in the competition. “All clubs that have yet to pay their affiliation fees and had made promises to pay their fees this week are reminded to do so...

Consistency needed from Fiji 7s team

THE Fiji Airways Fiji 7s team will need to be consistent to grab their opportune moment and bridge the gap on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series standings and possibly claim top seed heading into the Olympic Games in Tokyo 2020. After successfully conquering Hong Kong last weekend, our gladiators will not only defend their...

Singapore 7s winner likely to claim 7s series

THE winner from this weekend’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore from the current top three teams will have a good chance of winning the 2018/2019 series title. USA leads the series with 130 points, followed by Fiji on 123 points and New Zealand on 118 points. With 22 points on offer for the...

Captains all set for Singapore with Olympic qualification at stake

THE captains of the 16 teams competing at the HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens gathered in the Cloud Forest at the Gardens by the Bay complex ahead of the eighth round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. For the captains of USA, Fiji and New Zealand there is the added incentive of the chance to...

Rugby

19th April

Folau’s comments ‘completely wrong’ – Genia