Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji National rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Samoa and Tonga.
Fiji is one of the few countries where rugby union is the main sport. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000.
The cibi (pronounced IPA: [ðimbi]) war dance is performed by the Fiji rugby team before each Test match. It has been used on the rugby field since 1939, though its origins date back to the country's warring times with its Pacific neighbours.
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History
Rugby was first played in Fiji by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba, on Viti Levu Island in 1884. By 1914 a 'native competition' was started and in 1915 a Fiji Native Union was begun and became affiliated to the Fiji RFU.
Fiji played their first international against Samoa, then known as Western Samoa in Apia in 1924. They won 6-0 despite playing barefoot.
In 1939 Fiji toured New Zealand for the first time. With many players still preferring to play barefoot, the Fijians played with a care-free spirit and created history by becoming the first team to go through a full tour of New Zealand unbeaten, winning seven and drawing one, a record that stands to this day.
In 1945: The Native Rugby Union had ceased to exist, and by 1953 Fiji and Suva had separate unions. The Fiji Rugby Football Union was renamed Fiji Rugby Union in 1963
Fiji successfully toured New Zealand again in 1951 and 1957 and Australia in 1952 and 1954.
Fiji is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams and have won the Hong Kong Sevens nine times since 1978. In 1992 Fiji beat New Zealand again in the final to make it three titles in a row. Fiji is also the first nation to win the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005 (coincidentally, the two times it has been held in Hong Kong).
The IRB expanded the sevens rugby competition to become a series of 11 tournaments around the world. The losses the FRFU incurred from the 2000 sevens series were horrific. In addition political unrest in Fiji during 2000 obliged the FRFU to accept the cost of hosting international meets in Samoa, instead of Fiji. At the end of December 2000, the FRFU was burdened with accumulated losses of F$933,306. Fiji appealed to the IRB for funding arguing that the sevens tournament was built around Fiji and they would not be able to participate without such funding. From that appeal flowed participation funds that enabled the islands teams to play in the World Sevens series fully funded. By the end of November, the FRFU was sitting on a surplus of F$560,311 compared with the previous year's net loss of F$675,609.
However, in the 15 man game there has been less success. In 1987 Fiji made the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup and seemed about to beat France, the eventual finalists, till Koroduadua lost the ball out of his hand when in full stride.
In 1991 Fiji lost all three and failed to make the 1995 World Cup, but in 1999 they were again in action and again seemed about to beat France when things went wrong. They did make the quarter-final play-off, losing 45-24 to England. In 2001 Fiji were crowned Pacific Rim champions, defeating Samoa 28-17 in the final in Tokyo.
One of the problems for Fiji is simply getting their players to play for the country as many have contracts in Europe and with Super 12 teams where the money is far more rewarding. In addition a significant number of players eligible to play for Fiji end up representing Australia or New Zealand; one notable example is the Fiji-born, but New Zealand-raised, All Blacks star Joe Rokocoko.
They are currently ranked 10th in the world (their highest ever placed). Fiji is the dominant team from the Pacific and the 2005 Pacific Tri Nations Champions.
In 2005 Fiji is scheduled to play 9 tests including the All Blacks, NZ Maori, Italy, Wales, and the British Barbarians.
Famous players
- Rupeni Caucaunibuca (1980 - )
- Waisale Serevi (1968 - )