Fijian Ruggers

Fijian conversation by language students

2014-07-29T07:58:00.001-07:00

You will be amazed by these students conversation in Fijian

Naiyaravoro leaves Tigers for Waratahs

2014-06-11T23:22:00.001-07:00

The NSW Waratahs have recruited a 120 kilo winger from the Wests Tigers who, besides having the speed and power required to score Jonah Lomu-like tries, was blessed with the ice-cool nerves and safe hands needed to deliver a baby.

Imposing 23-year-old Yasawa Islander and Fiji born Taqele Naiyaravoro, who stands 190cm tall and was linked to Cronulla and Canberra before he accepted the Waratah's offer, was recruited by the Wests Tigers from New Zealand two years ago where he played union after a Kiwi talent scout spotted him starring for his school team in Suva.

Naiyaravoro, who had terrorised his opponents in the NRL's second-tier NSW Cup competition, faced fierce competition for a spot on the Wests Tigers wing behind Pat Richards, David Nofoaluma and Marika Koroibete. The club gave him an immediate release on Wednesday to try to break into the Super 15 – a challenge Naiyaravoro will start when he turns up to his first training session on Thursday.

Waratahs winger Matt Carraro was confident another young Naiyaravoro, would receive more support than Nemani Nadolo got at the Waratahs.

Carraro said. “With the coaches who are here I think he can do it a lot faster (than Nadolo). Michael Cheika has a great rugby brain. You’ve got Daryl Gibson … and Nathan Grey as well.

“They are all still quite young and active and can get in at training and show him what needs to be done.”

Osborne for All Blacks?

2014-06-11T12:13:00.001-07:00

Shuffling through the airport, his leg In a moon boot, he showed height and strength. He has just got off the long dreaded long flight from their South African Super 15 leg but looked perky - 'Bula' he uttered.

He is so humble to stop and speak to a fellow Fijian. That despite a long journey and a damaged ankle. That pretty much summarises Patrick Osborne - former Victorian.

He might just get a chance to play for the All Blacks in this 2014 test windowand I hope he does as he really deserves it.

This from the Highlanders.

Osborne, who turns 27 on Saturday, trained with the All Blacks over the past couple of days and it was not simply to make up the numbers.

All Black assistant coach Ian Foster said Osborne was added to the squad for the coaching team to study him and as a possible option to play.

With Charles Piutau out because of a knee injury for a couple of months at least, and Julian Savea also struggling with a knee complaint there was a vacancy for a big strong winger.

''We had a couple of dings out there, a bit of uncertainty with Jules [Savea] and Izzy [fullback Israel Dagg],'' Foster said.

''In our mind we are pretty happy with what Patrick has shown in the last month. We will have a look at making a decision later in the week if we need a replacement or not.''

Local players sometimes join the All Black squad for a couple of days to make up the numbers but Osborne is more than that.

''He is a big strong winger. He has just shown some really nice stuff in the last month, He's shown a lot of power, been good under the high ball, improved on his defence. His instincts near the goal line are pretty good.''

With Ben Smith and Cory Jane starting on the wings last week, the side lacked a bit of size on the flanks but Foster was not faulting the duo.

''I think when you look at Ben and Cory last week we were pretty happy with what they did. It was just a lack of opportunity.

"That was our weakness in our game. If Jules gets banged up, Charles Piutau out, we do like to have a power option.''

Mediocrity in Rugby is a sin

2013-09-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

Watched the movie Jobs today – what a cool movie with an important lesson for any individual or organisation. Never accept Mediocrity. Martha Graham called mediocrity, the ‘only sin’. Okay here I am all psyched up and imagine my disappointment to see the head line as I logged into Facebook ‘Dere happy with Mini-Pacific games performance’.

We lost the Gold but he’s happy. Right there he’s saying it is okay to be mediocre. No its not.

Most of us live in mediocrity. That is we accept to be in the middle because that’s where most other people are. Our friends are there, school mates are there, work mates are there. In the middle ground where least effort is needed. We are just going with the flow.

With the Fiji Rugby sevens performance in the last 2 years – that’s exactly where we are – at the middle. Fijian Rugby needs to learn that mediocrity is no longer acceptable. It is no longer acceptable to drop the minimum bench press weight for a prop just because they can’t. It is no longer acceptable to have a kicker with goal kicking accuracy of less than 50%.

With the search for a new Sevens coach, debate ensues as to who it should be. Many want a local so communication with the team is clear. Many want someone with experience in sevens such as Serevi. But I say get someone who is passionate about sevens, knows sevens and will not accept Mediocrity.

We don’t want mediocrity. We want excellence. We will not accept anything less.

FRU CEO Baravilala out

2013-09-05T20:35:00.001-07:00

6 September 2013

Media Release – Appointment of Executive Chairman

(For Immediate Release)

The Fiji Rugby Union Board has undertaken a review of the operations of the FRU business and intends to implement reforms and improvements to the administration, management and operations of the FRU business during its term.

As a strategic and formal step in that direction, after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, the board has decided to exercise its option to end its employment contract with the current Chief Executive Officer, Mr Manasa Baravilala, effective immediately, and advertise this role at the earliest convenience.

In the interim, the Chairman of the FRU shall necessarily assume certain executive responsibilities, as the Executive Chairman of the FRU, until a suitable replacement has been appointed as CEO of the FRU.

I take this opportunity to thank the members of the Rugby Council and all stakeholders for their continued support of the board in its elected mandate to reform the operations of the FRU.

Should you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact the FRU Media Officer Talei Mow on Mobile:7071038 or Email:talei.mow@fijirugby.net

Vinaka

Filimone Waqabaca

Chairman

Opinion: What's happened to team spirit?

2013-09-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Brian O'Driscoll is still bitter and resentful after being dropped from the final Lions test against the Wallabies. Gatland had gone for the Welsh pair of Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts and leaving out O'Driscoll in their astounding 41-16 victory.

In a recent Sky Sports interview O'Driscoll voiced his bitterness saying 'Do I resent him?Yeah..'. Pictures after the game shows O'Driscoll enjoying the festivities following that victory with the predominantly Welsh Lions winning team.

What is amazing is that he puts his displeasure of not playing that test over the teams outstanding victory. Its absolutely un-sportsmanlike (if there's such a word). We often get players who think that they are greater than the team. They think it's their right to be playing. The result obviously shows that Gatland had made the right decision.

Rugby players need to understand 'team ideology' and if O'Driscoll a veteran international and captain doesn't then we've got a problem. Players need to realize this and put their priorities right. They are there for the team, not the team for them.

Caucau big hit on Saili

2013-09-04T03:24:00.001-07:00

Since returning to New Zealand this well known Fijian player made his presence known, not only for his 2 tries but this big hit on Francis Saili knocking him off the pitch.

Caucau then showed his nicer side by making sure that Saili was okay. His nicer side can also be seen in this different video (Click here).

Vunisa scores on debut for Mont de Marsan

2013-09-02T21:58:00.002-07:00

Mont de Marsan opened their ProD2 season with a win over La Rochelle on Sunday. Fijian rugby player Sionasa Vunisa scored a try to help Mont de Marsan beat La Rochelle in what was a closely fought game 31-28.

26 year old Vunisa joined Mont de Marsan, after 4 years with Narbonne - scoring 12 tries in his first season there.

Below is some highlights of Vunisa's first game for Mont de Marsan.

2 Fijians for Manawatu vs Auckland

2013-08-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

Manawatu lost their early lead to Auckland in their second ITM cup encounter to come out second best by 21-18. Tomasi Cama scored a try after setting up a break for halfback Stirzaker. Missing Aaron Cruden and Aaron Smith the Turbos lost the game in the second half due to their scrummaging issues, after loosing their better second rowers.

Tomasi Cama played an excellent game with that try but was replaced by fellow Fijian Newton Tudreu in the last quarter. Newton may feature more for Turbos as Cama leaves for International Sevens duties.

Video of Fijian Manawatu highlights below.

Osbourne try as Canterbury dominate Taranaki

2013-08-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Canterbury dominated Taranaki with a 30 - 6 victory at the AMI stadium
in Christchurch. Fijian Patrick Osbourne was a threat the game and score Canterbury's first try after 23 minutes of play.

Watch the try and highlights here:

Taniela Koroi scores on debut for Lions

2013-08-15T10:54:00.001-07:00

Wellington walloped the Steemers 55 - 16 to start off their season with an enormous win. Fijian tighthead prop Taniela Koroi scoring a second half try after coming off the bench. Featuring some big names as All Black Victor Vitor, TJ Perenara and Jeremy Thrush the Lions showed their class with that emphatic win.

Watch the games higlights below.

Pacific Island Players Association to protect rugby players

2013-08-13T22:13:00.003-07:00

Former Manu Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger may have paid for voicing his views after the IRB World cup in 2011. He was dropped last year from the Manu Samoa team despite playing top Super 14 rugby in New Zealand. As a result in 2012, he joined former Fijian Captain Deacon Manu and Tongan Hale T-Pole in forming the Pacific Island players association to protect PI players interests

This from Radio New Zealand International this week.

The rugby community in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga say the formation of a Pacific Island Players Association is an important step forward for players in the professional age.
The association was formulated last year and launched a few months ago, although it’s hoped to be fully up and running in time for the November test window.
Vinnie Wylie spoke to those responsible for getting the initiative off the ground.
The Pacific Island Players Association was the brainchild of Fiji international Deacon Manu, Tonga’s Hale T-Pole and former Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger. Manu has spent the past seven years playing in Wales and says the idea has been floating around for a while, it just needed someone to take the lead.

For the Full Interview on Radio New Zealand International Click here

22 Fijians feature in NZ Provincial Championship

2013-08-12T01:00:00.001-07:00

The New Zealand Provincial Championship begins this week and features 22 Fijians. There are more Fijians playing in the minor unions but there's 22 in the major unions. The notable additions are 22 year old Taniela Koroi at tighthead prop and Naulia Dawai a loosie for Southland Stags.

We will keep you updated on stats for these players every week - the NPC kicks off this week. It's divided into two pools the ITM Cup Premiership and ITM Cup Championship.

PS: Patrick Osbourner - Winger - Canterbury
Api Naikatini - Loose forward - Wellington are missing from the list

Maleli's Glenmark win North Canterbury Divsion 1

2013-08-11T02:41:00.005-07:00

Maleli Bula a former Fijian Rugby Sevens player has helped his Glenmark Rugby Team win the North Canterbury Division 1 Final over favorites Oxford. The final was played Oxford Oval and so Oxford had the home advantage.

It was a closely fought final and the final score 23 - 19 reflecting that. Maleli Bula was a recruit of Rugby-Career.com starting off atSouthland and then moving north to Canterbury.

Congratulations champs.

Te Anau wins Southland Division 1

2013-08-10T14:40:00.001-07:00

Te Anau have won a deserved 21-10 win over Bluff in the Division One club final.

Fijian fullback Napolioni Serulele kicked a 50m penalty goal for Te Anau to open scoring 30 minutes into the game.

Lock Niumaia Bari scored a vital try out wide to give the locals an 8-3 advantage going into break.

Bluff forwards pushed the Greens scrum and were rewarded with a penalty try. Te Anau replied with another try and Napolioni was on target with the conversion adding to his three penalties.

It was hard fought final but held on to close the season winning the Shield. Congratulations Te Anau.

Both Fijian players were recruited by Rugby-Career.com

Vuicakau in Magpies for ITM

2013-08-09T13:06:00.001-07:00

Don't be surprised if Havelock North winger Mikey Vuicakau is a bolter when the Hawke's Bay Magpies ITM Cup squad is announced this afternoon.

The 25-year-old Fijian flyer who boasts a smile bigger than the one Penikolo Latu sported when called into the Magpies towards the end of last year's ITM Cup, has had an impressive pre-season campaign with the Magpies. He scored two tries in last week's win against Taranaki and his enthusiasm levels at squad trainings to date have been first class.

A 2011 Wairarapa Bush representative, Vuicakau, arrived in the Bay last year with the aim of playing Sevens for Havelock North and Hawke's Bay.

"It would be good to make the Magpies at some stage too," Vuicakau said at the time.

With eight tries for Havelock North this season before being called out of club rugby for Magpies training squad commitments Vuicakau's intention to add to his seven first class fixtures for Wairarapa Bush with the Magpies was obvious. A nationally ranked decathlete in Fiji before moving to New Zealand in 2011, Vuicakau, is capable of turning on razzle dazzle similar to what Fiji Sevens legend Waisale Serevi did when he was in his prime a decade or so ago.

"Serevi was my hero ... he coached me back home in Sevens," Vuicakau replied last year when quizzed on the comparison between himself and Serevi.

(0riginal article From Hawkes Bay Today by Warren Buckland)

Rupeni Caucau - 'You've got the softest hands'

2013-08-08T01:13:00.002-07:00

Rupeni Caucau was today interviewed by Hayley Holt from the 'Crowd Goes Wild' sports show on Prime.

Watch this video to the end - 'You've got the softest hands' - So funny.

Jone Macilai and Caucau in Northland Taniwha

2013-08-07T22:57:00.001-07:00

Jone Macilai was named in the Northland Taniwha squad for 2013 alongside fellow Fijian Rupeni Caucaunibuca. The fast and nippy Red Rock winger caught the eyes of Northland scouts at the coral Coast Sevens in Fiji late 2012.

He joined the Awanui Rugby Club in Sub-Northland Division of Mangonui along with Rupeni Caucau. Their club winning the final in that competition.

For Rupeni however, Awanui has been a bootcamp doing wonders for him.

Club coach Glen Subritzky puts it simply,

"He's no rock star with us. He gets told to do the same stuff as everyone, and if he doesn't do it then he's told to leave. This is a muscly Rupeni, he'll break tackles rather than go around players. This time around he has a totally different body shape, huge shoulders, he was never this big. When he left the Blues he was 104kg and now he's at 108."

We wish them both all the best in the ITM competition.

Kunavore for Toulouse

2013-08-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

Nasoni Kunavore has signed up for a 2 year contract with Toulouse

Rugby Club in France. The 19 year old is the younger brother of Maleli Kunavore who passed away earlier this year. He was a member of the Fiji under 20 team to the recent Junior World Cup.

The lad from Nadroga will be attached to the Touluse Rugby Academy and joins other successful Fijians plying their trade in France. The Nadroga Rugby Union has been successful in establishing a relationship with France Clubs to the benefit of their players.

Taniela Koroi Captains Tawa to Jubilee maiden

2013-08-06T00:35:00.001-07:00

Tawa RFC has won it's first Jubilee cup beating the Oriental Rongotai Club in the final of the Wellington Rugby Club competition last weekend.

Tawa is captained by Taniela Koroi and features three Fijians. Taniela remembers joining the club and how the grounds were empty on game days. In stark contrast the finals had a good crowd of local supporters cheering on to stop a spirited Ories effort.

The Fijian prop also featured for the Wellington XV against Manawatu and has been called up for Lions duties against the All Blacks this weekend. The ITM Lions first choice front row are currently recovering from Super XV injuries and so Taniela my feature in their first ITM game against Counties Manukau on August 15.

We wish him all the best this season.

Ratu Naulia Dawai makes it into Southland Stags

2013-08-03T16:52:00.004-07:00

3 years ago Naulia Dawai moved to New Zealand not knowing where the town he was going to would be. Jekope Maiono from Rugby-Career.com had recruited him to play in Southland rugby competition for Midlands. The deep South as they call it is often covered in snow and that's what he found himself in.

Despite the hardship Dawai has worked hard in the three years. Being away from his family is the hardest and he flies back to them in the off season. In 2012 he returned early to play for Southland in the Sevens competition and impressed Southland Coach David Henderson. But Henderson wanted Dawai to move from hooker to flanker after seeing him at the New Zealand Sevens in Queenstown.

"After the sevens, we thought he was a guy with special talents, that could run with the ball," Henderson said. "He seemed to have something different. He could step into contact and through contact, he's quite powerful. We encouraged him to go into loose forward and he's done enough to warrant selection, so we are pretty happy with where he's at, but he's still got a long way to go."

This year he was finally selected to play for the Stags alongside other Fijian mates Nemia Kenatale and Tuapati Talemaitoga.

"I've learnt a lot, just how to train and what to eat. Focussing on skills like my passing and tackling technique, running lines. I've learnt heaps."

Congratulations Naulia Dawai.

Can Fiji win the PNC?

2013-06-19T04:01:00.002-07:00

After winning their match against USA with a bonus point, Fiji is 1 point behind Canada at 12 in the Pacific Nations Cup table. But has Fiji got a chance of a winning the PNC? Technically the answer is yes but the chances are slim. Fiji has to beat Tonga and Canada lose their game against Japan on the for this to happen.

But Canada has been playing so well and Japan so poorly that it's a foregone conclusion that Canada will win the PNC. In my earlier blog I had suggested that winning the PNC puts Fiji at a stronger negotiating position for a sponsorhip deal. We may have just ruined our chances in the PNC and we must now rely on winning Sevens Rugby World Cup. Winning would definitely strengthen our negotiating position from a sponsorship perspective.

Well it appears that I have written off Fiji too early. Japan has just beaten Canada by 16 - 13 which means that Fiji still has a chance of winning the PNC if they beat Tonga on the 23rd.

On the other hand the FRU has just this week signed a deal with the United Arab Emirates Rugby Union to help their Sevens Team with their development. We hope that this comes with great financial gain and judging from FRU Chairman Filimoni Waqabaca's presence at the signing this is very likely. Could this mean that the Emirates Airlines is knocking at the FRU door for sponsorship?

As we move forward I would like to wish our sevens team all the best for this years Sevens World Cup.

Kuridrani scores for historic defeat of British Lions

2013-06-18T17:21:00.003-07:00

The British Lions had an easy run so far with the Super 15 Provincial team until they faced the Brumbies. The ACT have not beaten the Lions for 42 years.

Featuring Fijian rugby players Henry Speight and Tevita Kuridrani the Brumbies meant business right from the opening whistle. Tevita Kuridrani's try in the 5th minute was the only try and he still had a lot of work to do from 30 meters out.

The 22 year old joined the Brumbies squad prior to the 2012 Super Rugby season and made his debut against the Reds in Brisbane. He also sevens for Australia and represented Australia under 20 in the 2011 IRB Junior World Championship. Here's the a video of the try and highlights of the game.

Nakaitaci scores 2 tries on debut for France

2013-06-11T04:17:00.000-07:00

Fiji-born winger Noa Nakaitaci scored two tries within two minutes in the second half as France overran the Blues Super Rugby team 38-15 on Tuesday in a tour match which bridged their first and second tests against New Zealand. Right winger Nakaitaci, who plays for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14, touched down in the 50th and 52nd minutes to allow France to run away with the match against the Auckland-based Blues after leading 12-3 at halftime.

This is the video of the two tries

Digicel sponsorship to be replaced?

2013-06-04T17:09:00.001-07:00

Digicel sponsorship for the Fiji Rugby Union expires at the end of this year. With 6 months to go, negotiations for a major sponsor will already be under way. There is no better timing than this to be negotiating a sponsor.

Winning the IRB sevens this year would have put the FRU in a stronger negotiating position. But there is still time as the PNC finishes 23rd of June and the Sevens World Cup is on 28th to 30th June. To attract an excellent sponsor we need to win these two tournaments - full stop. The Junior World Cup is underway and a semifinal achievement would be a bonus.

An improved monetary sponsor is critical as I would like to see our sevens players get contracts for next years IRB sevens series. No rotations. No trialling players. Just get a core group of players, contracted for 2 years and let them play the tournaments. We can introduce 1 or 2 new players but a core group should be maintained. Consistency, combination and a body accustomed to sevens rugby physiology is necessary.

New Zealand has employed this strategy and their results are outstanding. Even though the All Blacks won as many tournaments (two) as Fiji in 2012/2013 IRB sevens season, they appeared in 7 out of 9 finals.

The IRB sevens series is the key in the short term to Fiji's rugby success. Our Flying Fijians XV rugby team is not playing enough tier one tests to generate enough interest on a major sponsorship deal. On the hand the Fiji Sevens team plays over 60 games a year in 9 countries. We also need a sponsor that is worldwide and can utilise the multinational appearance of our Sevens team. Vodafone comes to mind.

The New Zealand Rugby Union in recognising this potential extended the All Blacks name to their sevens team. This was done during the negotiations phase for a new sponsor in the middle of 2012. The resulting AIG sponsorship deal in dollar value is a secret but the sevens team performance in the last decade was obviously a boost to their negotiation.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew said:

"From Las Vegas to Dubai, the Sevens team plays in more places, more often than the All Blacks. The next season extends from October to May and will be longer in coming years as more tournaments are added. As well, the Olympics provides a fantastic new opportunity on the biggest sporting stage in the world.

Imagine the All Blacks silver fern proudly on the chests of our Sevens team at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016. There is no greater place to showcase to the world the All Blacks.

Sevens is critical to Fiji in the short term. We need to win the 2013/14 IRB sevens series. Does this mean 15's is not important? Not it is, but it will take a while for us to move up the ranking and be at where Samoa is. While we are working our way up the rankings in 15's, the Sevens code is where we can compete and retain our sponsors.

The Flying Fijians have started well and their ranking has improved from 14 to 13 and we hope that they stay on track to winning the PNC. Things will become clearer at the end of June. What an exciting month for Fiji Rugby this is.