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Rugby
1st April
Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua ready for war
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi says he and his team are ready to put their body on the line for Fiji as they take on the Melbourne Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium...
31st March
2023 Hong Kong 7s: Naimasi to lead Fijiana
Ana Naimasi will be leading the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team into the World Rugby Sevens Series in Hong Kong this weekend. The 25-year-old said she was honoured to lead a group of young talented women in their quest of making their island nation proud. “This is actually the first time for me to take...
Super Rugby Pacific: Dolokoto vows to give his best at home games
For Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Mesulame Dolokoto, playing at home has always been the biggest privilege throughout his rugby career. The Fijian Drua will be looking to bounce back from a 57-24 loss against the Highlanders last weekend, when they take on the Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva tomorrow. The Cakaudrove...
2023 Hong Kong 7s: Historic returns for Fijiana 7s
Today marks a historic occasion for the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side as it will be their first time at the Hong Kong 7s under the women’s world sevens series. Hong Kong has always been considered the pinnacle of 7s tournaments on the series and the last the Fijian women ran onto the turf at...
Fijian Drua confirms official transport provider
Nadi-based tourism transport operator Tewaka has been appointed as the official transport provider for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team for the 2023 season. Fijian Drua CEO Mark Evans said Tewaka was a respected Fijian brand and transport operator and they were pleased to partner with them for the second consecutive year. “The Fijian Drua...
Master trainer Kelly conducts coaching clinics in Fiji
World Rugby coaches master trainer Richard Kelly is in Fiji conducting level three coaching assessments for some local coaches. Travelling from New Zealand, Kelly was invited by Oceania Rugby to conduct the assessment and is being hosted by the Fiji Rugby Union. “I’ve been doing this work for a very long time, and I’ve always...
Defence the word from coach Gollings
Defence will be a key word used by Ben Gollings this weekend as the Fiji Airways Fiji 7s side looks to return to the winner’s podium starting this weekend with the Hong Kong 7s tournament. Having failed to win in Hong Kong last November and at the past six events on the HSBC World Rugby...
Fijiana’s Naikore out to score tries
Vitalina Naikore is back and ready to do what she loves best – beating tacklers and scoring freakish tries. The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua winger was back in camp this week after completing a 10-week recruit course with the Fiji Correction Service. The 22-year-old was a key member of the Fijiana Drua last season with...
Super Rugby Pacific: Sau makes run-on side
Hard-hitting Swire Shipping Fijian Drua flyer Eroni Sau will start on the wing against the Melbourne Rebels tomorrow after he was named in the starting 15 by head coach Mick Bryne. Sau is making a return to the matchday 23 after completing 12 days of Head Injury Assessment (HIA). The explosive Flying Fijians winger left...
Back after 20 years: Fijiana returns to Hong Kong
After 20 years, the Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side will run on to the turf at So Kon Po Stadium to battle it out against the world’s best in Hong Kong this weekend. But there is more than just winning on their minds as they take on Brazil, Australia and Ireland in their pool games,...
Countries in stronger position should help others with debt woes -IMF chief
BOAO, China (Reuters) – Countries in a relatively stronger position should help vulnerable nations especially those under debt distress, International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva said on Thursday. The IMF chief said such assistance would be particularly important against the backdrop of high interest rates and currency depreciation. “We urgently need faster and more...
30th March
Byrne: Fijian Drua players owning up to disappointing loss to Highlanders
The players are “owning up” to their disappointing loss against the Highlanders last Saturday. This was highlighted by Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne during a media conference yesterday. The Dunedin-based side ran in nine tries, while the Drua in comparison only managed to score four tries with the Highlanders winning the match...
Super Rugby Pacific: Fijian Drua in for a big battle
Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne said they are in for a mouth-watering clash this Saturday against the Melbourne Rebels, a team they had played more than any other teams in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Before their game on Saturday, the Drua faced the Rebels outfit four times, having played two pre-season...
Factors behind starting 15
“I do not think ever.” This was response from Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne when queried whether after five rounds of the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition he had found his best starting 15. “We got an idea of our playing group for sure but I do not think,...
Naevo raises rugby safety
The mother of the late Pasikali Naevo, Jessica Naevo, is adamant on spreading awareness on the safety of young rugby players around Fiji to prevent further incidents as such from occurring. Pasikali passed away on February 26 after collapsing during a training session with the national under-20 side in Nadi. He played as a forward...
Fijiana Drua Rubuti takes a lead role
Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua forward Joma Rubuti says debutants in the squad will need more game time and experience to get use to the level of competition in Super Rugby. The 25-year-old was part of the Fijiana Drua side that shocked women’s rugby by winning the Super W title in their debut season, after cruising...
Hong Kong set for 2023 rugby festival
The world-famous Hong Kong skyline provided the backdrop as captains of the 28 men’s and women’s teams gathered ahead of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens which kicks off tomorrow. The tournament marks the eighth round in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 Series in the men’s competition, including the second time in Hong Kong...
2023 Hong Kong 7s: Good start vital, Samoa first up
Fiji Airways Fiji 7s coach Ben Gollings says getting a good start at the Hong Kong 7s will be the focus for the team this weekend. The side faces faces Samoa in its first game tomorrow at 7.28pm. On Saturday, the boys will take on Canada at 3.52pm before the all-important clash against Argentina at...
‘No excuses’: Fijian Drua searching for consistency in away games
“Not an excuse”. Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne said this when queried about the Drua’s disappointing performances in away games during the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. This season, the Drua only managed to win one away game against the Moana Pasifika and lost against the Waratahs, Reds and...
29th March
Male to ring in changes
Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua head coach Inoke Male says a few changes will be made to his matchday team to take on the Rebels in round two of the Super W competition at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Saturday. After a training session at the Bidesi Ground in Suva yesterday, Male said his...
Tinai looks to improve on her game
With three more days to go before the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua takes on the Melbourne Rebels at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, fullback Lavenia Tinai says she is ready to put her life on the line for her side. After a close encounter with the ACT Brumbies last weekend at Prince Charles Park...
Rasolea, Naikore rejoin Fijiana
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua will be looking to pick themselves up after surviving a close scare last weekend from the ACT Brumbies at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park. Head coach Inoke Male said his side needed to treat every game as the final, as teams in the competition would be out to rip them off...
Strongest touring squad, says Fuli
Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s have been boosted with the return of tough forward Rejieli Daveua and sprinter Younis Bese for the Hong Kong 7s this weekend. Daveua was out for more than a month after sustaining a head injury at the Hamilton 7s while Bese injured her knee in Sydney. Coach Saiasi Fuli believes it’s...
Fijian Drua cool down
It is only going to be upwards for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team, says Seventh Heaven Fiji director Eddy Rotteveel. The Drua team was yesterday hosted at Seventh Heaven Fiji, a five-star floating pontoon located in the Mamanuca Group. “This is an epic team. A winning team,” Rotteveel said. He said it was important...
Physical battle – Jackson: We need to play 80-minute rugby
Expect the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua team to be physical for the full 80 minutes against the Melbourne Rebels this Saturday in round six of the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season. This was highlighted by Drua assistant coach Glen Jackson during an interview at the Seventh Heaven pontoon in the Mamanuca Group...
28th March
Ireland’s Sexton likely out of rest of club season
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Ireland’s Grand Slam winning captain Johnny Sexton will likely miss the rest of the club season with a groin injury, his province Leinster said on Monday. The 37-year-old flyhalf picked up the injury in Ireland’s final Six Nations game against England. “Johnny Sexton will see a specialist on Tuesday and have a...
Fava rates defending champion
ACT Brumbies women’s head coach Scott Fava said Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua was the team to beat this season despite losing a majority of the players from their inaugural Buildcorp Super Rugby W after winning last year. He made this comment during a postmatch interview on Saturday after his side lost to the Fijiana Drua...
Botia shows power
Flying Fijians and La Rochelle utility player Levani Botia showed his power with a close-range touchdown early in the second half as his side recorded a 36-6 win over Bordeaux over the weekend. Medias reports said the Fijian flanker picked up the ball close to the line after Gregory Alldritt’s charge from the back of...
Fans’ support – Male, Tawake call for 16th player’s presence
Head coach Inoke Male has called on its 16th player during the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua side’s round two of the Super W clash against the Melbourne Rebels this Saturday. The side will play first before the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua takes on the Rebels men’s side in round six of the Shop N Save...
27th March
Blues overpower Force
The Western Force’s struggles in New Zealand have continued with a 30-17 loss to the highly professional Blues yesterday. The Force made the Blues work for it early and didn’t concede a try until the 29th minute, but were ultimately put away comfortably at Eden Park in their second straight defeat. It leaves them still...
