The Fiji national rugby sevens team is one of the most popular and successful rugby sevens teams in the world. Fiji has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record seventeen times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice -- in 1997 and 2005 (coincidentally, the two times it has been held in Hong Kong). Fiji is also known for winning the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, the country's first medal in any event.
Video Fiji national rugby sevens team
History
The International Rugby Board (IRB) expanded the sevens rugby competition to become a series of 11 tournaments around the world. The debt the FRU incurred from the 2000 sevens series were significant. At the end of December 2000, the FRU 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 2001, the FRU was sitting on a surplus of F$560,311 compared with the previous year's net loss of F$675,609.
Waisale Serevi is highly regarded as the best player ever in sevens rugby. Nicknamed the "maestro", played in this side from 1989 to 2006 leading them to countless tournament victories, two Sevens World Cup in 1997 and 2005. He also coached/played in the side from 2005-2007 guiding Fiji to their first World Sevens Series title in the 2005/2006 season.
In 2017 the Fiji Sevens side won praise and recognition from a notable member of the Rugby Football Union coaching staff who described them as "filth at 7s", in this context 'filth' was taken to mean jolly good.
Maps Fiji national rugby sevens team
Honours
Tournament history
Summer Olympic Games
Commonwealth Games
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Fiji has twice won the Rugby World Cup Sevens -- first in 1997, and again in 2005.
World Rugby Sevens Series
Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series three times -- first in 2005-06, and most recently in 2015-16.
Team
Current Squad
Fiji team to the 2018 London Sevens.
- Sevuloni Mocenacagi
- Josua Vakurinabili
- Kalione Nasoko
- Paula Dranisinukula
- Semi Radradra
- Jasa Veremalua
- Josua Tuisova
- Vatemo Ravouvou
- Jerry Tuwai (c)
- Waisea Nacuqu
- Eroni Sau
- Amenoni Nasilasila
- Alasio Sovita Naduva (13th man)
Former players
Player records
Most tries: (updated December 2014)
- Nasoni Roko (123)
- William Ryder (105)
- Emosi Vucago (98)
Coaches
- Gareth Baber (Head Coach)
- Ben Ryan
- Chris Cracknell
- Waisale Serevi
- Etuwate Waqa
- Ratu Kitione Vesikula
- Alifereti Dere
- Pauliasi Tabulutu
- Rupeni Ravonu
- Peni Veidreyaki
- Alifereti Cawanibuka
- Josateki Sovau
- Tomasi Cama
- Sanivalati Laulau
- Tevita Wainiqolo
See also
- Fiji Rugby Union
- Fiji national rugby union team
- Rugby World Cup Sevens
References
- McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)
External links
- Official website
- WorldRugby profile
Source of article : Wikipedia
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