Fiji Rugby Union
Encyclopedia
Fiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Fiji
. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA), along with Samoa
and Tonga
. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000. The patron is the President of Fiji
, Ratu
Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda
, CF
, MBE
, JP
.
.
twice, in 1997
and the most recent event in 2005
. They also play in the IRB Sevens World Series
, an annual circuit of eight tournaments around the world, winning the series in 2006
and ending the six-year reign of New Zealand
on that circuit. However, they lost the title to New Zealand in 2007, and did not win any tournaments in the 2007–2008 Series.
.
There is also an Indo-Fijian
team, to compete in the Asian Games
.
Fiji currently has a professional six team domestic competition, the Colonial Cup (similar in design to the Super 14
). Before this, Fiji had 12 Division One teams. Five teams were made up of the players from the 12 Division One teams, based on regional lines, with the aim of creating a "more competitive competition that leads on and provides a higher level of competitive domestic rugby".
The FRU also has developed a base pay for players at international level.
Domestic competitions include the Farebrother-Sullivan Cup, and a Domestic 7's tournament.
Rugby union in Fiji
Rugby union is a popular team sport that is played in Fiji. It is considered to be the national sport of the country. The sport was introduced in the 1880s. Fiji is defined as a tier two rugby nation by the International Rugby Board . The national team has competed at the Rugby World Cup and made...
. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA), along with Samoa
Samoa Rugby Football Union
The Samoa Rugby Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Samoa. They were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Tonga....
and Tonga
Tonga Rugby Football Union
The Tonga Rugby Union are the governing body of the sport of rugby union in Tonga. They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population of around 950,000. The patron is the President of Fiji
President of Fiji
The President of the Republic of Fiji is the head of state of Fiji. The President was appointed by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term under the terms of the now-suspended 1997 constitution. The Great Council of Chiefs is constitutionally required to consult the Prime Minister, but...
, Ratu
Ratu
Ratu is a title used by Fijians of chiefly rank. An equivalent title, Adi is used by females of chiefly rank.-Etymology:Ra is a prefix in many titles and Tu is simply "chief"...
Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda
Josefa Iloilo
Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ was the President of Fiji from 2000 until 2009, excluding a brief period from 5 December 2006 until 4 January 2007 . He held the traditional title of Tui Vuda, the paramount chief of the Vuda district in Ba Province on Fiji's northwest coast...
, CF
Cf
-Business:* Catelli i Fiorani, a defunct Italian motorcycle maker bought by Fusi* CF, the IATA code for City Airline* Consolidated Freightways, a former trucking company in the United States-Economics:...
, MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
.
International 15's
Otherwise known as the "Flying Fijians," the team gained No 9 in the IRB World Rankings after defeating Wales to enter the 2007 Rugby World Cup but slid down No 11 as a result of losses in the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
The 2008 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim: Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Māori . The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament started on 7 June and ended on 6 July 2008.The tournament...
.
International 7's
Fiji have won the Rugby World Cup SevensRugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
twice, in 1997
1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens
The 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens was the second edition of the tournament and held in Hong Kong. Fiji defeated South Africa 24-21 to take the title for the first time. The match is still considered one of the best Sevens matches of all time...
and the most recent event in 2005
2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens
-The winning team::Fiji national rugby sevens team*Waisale Serevi*Sireli Bobo*Vilimoni Delasau*William Ryder*Marika Vunibaka*Semisi Naevo*Nasoni Roko*Ifereimi Rawaqa*Jone Daunivucu*Lepani Nabuliwaqa*Norman Ligairi*Viliame Satala*Apolosi Satala...
. They also play in the IRB Sevens World Series
IRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
, an annual circuit of eight tournaments around the world, winning the series in 2006
2005-06 World Sevens Series
The 2005-06 World Sevens Series was the seventh in an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments run by the International Rugby Board since 1999-2000. The participating teams in each World Sevens Series are full national sides....
and ending the six-year reign of New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby union team (sevens)
The New Zealand national rugby union sevens team is the New Zealand representative team in rugby union sevens and competes in the IRB Sevens World Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games.-IRB Sevens:...
on that circuit. However, they lost the title to New Zealand in 2007, and did not win any tournaments in the 2007–2008 Series.
Other teams
Other teams include the Fiji A "Warriors", age group international teams, and a women's team, currently under development and hoping for an invitation to the next Women's Rugby World CupWomen's Rugby World Cup
The Women's Rugby World Cup is the premier international competition in rugby union for women. The tournament is organised by the sport's governing body the International Rugby Board...
.
There is also an Indo-Fijian
Indians in Fiji
Indo-Fijians are Fijians whose ancestors came from India and various parts of South Asia, South-East Asia and Asia itself. They number 313,798 out of a total of 827,900 people living in Fiji...
team, to compete in the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
.
Domestic competition
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
). Before this, Fiji had 12 Division One teams. Five teams were made up of the players from the 12 Division One teams, based on regional lines, with the aim of creating a "more competitive competition that leads on and provides a higher level of competitive domestic rugby".
The FRU also has developed a base pay for players at international level.
Domestic competitions include the Farebrother-Sullivan Cup, and a Domestic 7's tournament.
Former Office Bearers
- Pio Bosco TikoisuvaPio Bosco TikoisuvaPio Bosco Tikoisuva, born in Taveuni in 1947, is a former Fijian rugby player and diplomat.-Rugby career:Tikoisuva played 19 tests for Fiji between 1968 and 1979....
, CEO 2001–05 - Charlie ChartersCharlie ChartersCharlie Charters is a former rugby union official and sports marketing executive turned thriller writer whose debut book Bolt Action was published by Hodder & Stoughton in 2010. Charters was raised in Fiji where his mother was making a documentary film and met his father, a tobacco farmer...
, Marketing Manager 2001–04, occasional Acting CEO - Wayne PivacWayne PivacWayne Pivac is a professional rugby union coach. He is a former Northland and Auckland coach, and also a former policeman. Pivac coached Northland to NPC Second Division success in 1997 and earned them promotion to First Division the following year....
, National Coach 2004–05 - Mac MaCallion, National Coach 2002–04
- George Simpkin, Coach 1984–90
See also
- Fiji national rugby union teamFiji national rugby union teamThe Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
- Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)The Fiji Sevens side is one of the most popular and successful Sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record nine times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Sevens World Cup twice, winning that event in 1997 and 2005...
- Colonial CupColonial CupThe Colonial Cup was the second highest level of competition within Fijian rugby union and was intended to be a stepping stone for local players into international rugby union...