Bird scarers and residents
Can the relevant authorities please reconsider the operation of the recently installed bird scarers along the Nadi International Airport runway?
While I fully understand and support the need for these devices to enhance aviation safety, the noise they generate is extremely loud and continues 24 hours a day, including throughout the night.
The constant noise from these devices is depriving nearby residents, including my own family, of peaceful nights. As someone who lives near the runway, I can attest that the repeated loud sounds interrupt our sleep night after night and are affecting our wellbeing.
Aviation safety must always remain the priority, but so too should the wellbeing of communities living alongside the airport.
Surely there are ways to minimise the impact on nearby residents without compromising safety, whether through alternative technologies or by reviewing how and when these devices are operated.
I respectfully urge the relevant authorities to listen to the concerns of affected residents and find a practical solution that balances aviation safety with the community’s right to peace and a good quality of life.
Avineel Kumar Martintar, Nadi
The Three Lions march on!
I basked in glory as Jude Bellingham rescued England in a nervy World Cup quarterfinal win over Norway who had beaten five-time WC champions Brazil 2-1.
Bellingham’s extra-time sizzler at a jam-packed Miami Stadium declared The Three Lions winners and a place in the final four.
Since I had a morning flight from Labasa to Nausori, I watched the first half at Labasa Airport, thanks to the big screen at the airport.
It was scary as The Vikings led early through a brilliant Andreas Schjelderup goal. However, Bellingham levelled scores much to my delight and then he scored a dramatic extra-time winner.
Bellingham slid home the winning goal in the first half of extra time.
The Three Lions are riding on luck which they hope will take them through to the final of the WC for the first time since 1966 when they hosted and won the WC after beating West Germany 4-2 in extra time at the Wembley.
After finishing off at the group stage in 2014, England finished fourth in 2018.
The Three Lions lost to Croatia 2-1 in the semifinal in extra time and then 2-0 to Belgium in the third-place play-off.
In the last WC, England lost 2-1 to France in the quarterfinal.
Hopes are high for Thomas Tuchel and The Three Lions to end the WC ghost. I’m praying for a miracle!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
Fiji’s humiliation by England
Fiji’s 8-73 drubbing by England is not just a sporting embarrassment — it is a national shock.
A Tier–1 nation conceding 11 tries is the kind of result that enters the Guinness Book of Records for all the wrong reasons.
Fiji fans know rugby too well to accept that this is simply “a bad day”. Something is clearly wrong inside the Flying Fijians camp — between players, management, and leadership. The body language, discipline lapses, and total collapse in structure point to deeper issues than fitness or preparation.
After the Wales loss, questions were already being asked. Now, after England’s demolition, those questions have become unavoidable.
Fiji looked like a team that did not want to be on the pitch.
That is not normal for a nation whose rugby identity is built on pride, passion, and resilience.
FRU must stop giving false hopes to fans. The public did not expect miracles, but they certainly did not expect a Tier–1 side to be demolished and humiliated in this manner. Fiji deserves transparency, accountability, and immediate action — not excuses, not talanoa sessions, and not silence.
The problems are real, and they must be confronted now.
It is time that the Fijian teams started playing their fun loving, free flow, running game with those great backward passes and invented island talent, grit and vigour.
The fighting spirit appears to be missing, and the same issue afflicts the Fiji sevens side, who used to teach the world how to play free running rugby- the kaiviti style!
DR SUSHIL K SHARMA Lautoka
Harvest price
The Fiji Times news “Farmers won’t harvest without fair price” (FT 5/7) is sadly affecting Fiji’s economic development. A lot has been done from girmitiya days to what this industry is today.
Hopefully farmers will get their justified dues before any more “kachkach”.
Tahir Ali Hamilton, New Zealand
Red card issue
Article 27, in rare cases is used by FIFA to grant the judicial committee the authority to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.
The Americans had requested for a judicial review. In my LTE (09/07) I had used the words “grudgingly accept” which means “often with feelings of reluctance or resentment”.
Though I resented the “Red Card” issue, FIFA president took the game to a new level. Perhaps Rajend Naidu was not aware of these facts.
Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
Winning base
We have proved that the Fijian Drua have a winning success rate playing at home. Why couldn’t we host these tests in Fiji?
Financially it’s a waste of money hosting elsewhere, and I believe we could have gained a lot by hosting the games locally.
And not only that, we could have more chances of winning. Come on Fiji Rugby.
Tomasi Boginiso Liverpool, Sydney, Australia
US-Iran ceasefire
There are so many ceasefires between the US and Iran that I am confused about when they cease and when they fire.
Rakesh Chand Sharma Nadi
No improvement!
After the schooling of the Flying Fijians by England, I saw an online post saying that the only one that improved after the Fiji vs Wales match is Georgina Ledua. Sobo!
Wise Muavono Balawa, Lautoka
Prepare to fail
What happened at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Liverpool rugby field is understood.
‘By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.’ – Benjamin Franklin.
Jioji O. Toronibau Navetau, Tunuloa
Change the coach now
Despite how experience the players maybe, the game plan by the coach is the main factor. Hardly any game plan in place, players seem to do as they please.
Coach Seruvakula was hardly seen communicating with staff and this is the worse Fiji game ever seen against England.
Another scoring blunder seen with ball bouncing off the flag led to a score for England.
Change the rugby coach immediately and have a foreigner to take us to the World Cup.
Tomasi Boginiso Liverpool, Sydney, Australia
Bad to worse
With so much pain and agony we write to seek answers from Rugby House on the reasons why our Drua mentor and former All Blacks skill coach Mick Byrnes left the coaching position.
We certainly don’t deserve Tier 1 status with the way we have played the last two games under a new management. This is not a joke.
We are now getting humiliated, thrashed and its really painful. Where has the scrum machine gone, line out shambles, no turnovers, no mana magic, no Flying Fijians rucks, and mauls?
We lost by 8 points in our last game with England, what is happening?
Rugby House this is modern day rugby.
Mick nurtured Drua rugby than took our Fiji rugby with brilliant rugby structure to the very next level, all lost and dusted. I heard one rugby commentator say “this is ridiculous rugby!”.
We need to shake up now or we are gone. Rugby house executives stand up or step out please to save the little left.
I saw the World Rugby chief watching the Fiji vs England game. What must he be thinking? Vacava tacina?
Shalwyn Prasad Mukta Ben Place, Nabua, Suva
Flying Fijians feel English brunt!
I wrote earlier that England’s wounded Roses would try to find their mojo at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool against the Fiji Water Flying Fijians after they were hammered 45-21 at the Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg by the Springboks.
The rampant England outfit thrashed Fiji with an 11-try spree that took fans by surprise. The 73-8 thrashing has caused a stir and disappointment among fans. After watching the All Blacks hammer Italy 47-17 and the Les Bleus (France) beat the Wallabies 42-26 at the Suncorp Stadium, I woke up early, hoping the Flying Fijians would turn the table against England. However, I had to take an early break as England led 35-3 at the break, indicating that the game was won by the Roses.
Fiji’s discipline was poor. We suffered a setback as Levani Botia spent 10 minutes in the bin while Simione Kuruvoli was shown the marching orders.
England, who had last won a Test when they beat Wales 48-7 in round one in the Six Nations, needed a statement victory, and they earned that victory in style with their biggest win over Fiji. After beating the Dragons, England lost to Scotland’s Bravehearts 31-20 and Ireland 42-21.
They were embarrassed by Italy 23-18 in round four and then edged by the Les Bleus 48-46 in round five. England finished fifth in the standings, two points above Wales who finished with six points.
Apart from the 73-18 routing, Fiji’s biggest defeats to England have been in 2016 (58-15), 2012 (54-12) and 1989 (58-23). The performance was horrible and a lot of questions will be asked about whether Senirusi Seruvakula can coach the Flying Fijians. The loss is an eye-opener — a very painful one!
Rajnesh Ishwar Lingam Nadawa, Nasinu
A national embarrassment!
Wow! How did we get here?
What wholesale humiliation!
What a national embarrassment!
In the National Championship match at 1.10am July 12, 2026, England outplayed the Flying Fijians in almost all conceivable departments.
3 – 35 at half time.
8 – 73 at full time.
Simply disgusting. This is way beyond just shameful.
Former national head coach, Mick Byrne, in my sincere view served Fijian Drua and the Fiji Rugby Union with proven trust and distinction. His sudden departure, with immediate effect, has come back to bite us real hard.
Fiji Rugby, through bringing up Fiji Drua from its infancy stages, is a trusted brand name today. No kidding. Mick Byrne achieved this distinction with enormous pride.
We had a winning and workable formula. Why change it? Who changed it? Who is the influencer? In time, the rugby world will learn the whole truth.
In my view, Fiji is the greatest loser in international rugby stage today — when Mick Byrne was unceremoniously “shown the door”.
This is a truly sad state of affairs. Acting head coach, Senirusi Seruvakula it clearly appears, after nice pre match words, has failed miserably. He has not delivered. Who pays? The buck always stops with the coach.
Deeds, not words.
Am I wrong? I apologise, publicly. These words are not the easiest to share. They come with much shame, anger and hurt.
Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Spilled milk
There is an old saying: “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” George Speight, many people in Fiji are still seeking answers about the events of the 2000 coup and, in particular, who was involved behind the scenes.
For many members of the Indo-Fijian community, genuine reconciliation begins with truth, accountability, and openness.
Some may feel that a full and honest account of those events would do more to promote healing than appearances before reconciliation committees that could be perceived as seeking public sympathy.
Reconciliation is meaningful only when it is built on transparency, responsibility, and a sincere commitment to acknowledging the past.
Rahul Krishna Auckland, New Zealand
