Rugby union in the Solomon Islands
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in the Solomon Islands is a popular sport. The national team have competed in various international competitions. They are currently ranked 76th by the IRB, with 3068 registered players and 24 clubs.
. Despite large amounts of money and advertising, the Solomon Islanders remained loyal to rugby union, and rugby league in the islands underwent a ten year hibernation. These efforts have now been compounded by Rupert Murdoch
backed television, but still without little return from the vast amounts of money spent.
Delegates from the Solomon Islands were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
in 1986.
Like many Pacific archipelagos, rugby sevens
is the preferred code, and there are regular competitions.
There is also a successful schools competition.
played their first international at 18 August 1969, losing to Papua New Guinea
by 23-5. Their next game, three days later, with Fiji
show their record loss of 113-13. Both games were part of the 3rd South Pacific Games
. Since then they have played in only a small number of internationals. Their first win came in 1983, in a 19-12 win over Niue
, for the 7th South Pacific Games.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in the Solomon Islands is a popular sport. The national team have competed in various international competitions. They are currently ranked 76th by the IRB, with 3068 registered players and 24 clubs.
History
Rugby union continues to be a popular sport in the Solomon Islands despite aggressive occasional overtures from rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. Despite large amounts of money and advertising, the Solomon Islanders remained loyal to rugby union, and rugby league in the islands underwent a ten year hibernation. These efforts have now been compounded by Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
backed television, but still without little return from the vast amounts of money spent.
Delegates from the Solomon Islands were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1986.
Like many Pacific archipelagos, rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
is the preferred code, and there are regular competitions.
There is also a successful schools competition.
National team
The Solomon Islands national rugby union teamSolomon Islands national rugby union team
The Solomon Islands national rugby union team represent Solomon Islands in the sport of rugby union.They played their first international at 18 August 1969, losing to Papua New Guinea by 23-5. Their next game, three days later, with Fiji show their record loss of 113-13. Both games were part of the...
played their first international at 18 August 1969, losing to Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
by 23-5. Their next game, three days later, with Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The 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...
show their record loss of 113-13. Both games were part of the 3rd South Pacific Games
South Pacific Games
The Pacific Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Olympics , with participation exclusively from countries around the South Pacific. It is held every four years and began in 1963, hosted by Suva, Fiji.- Concept :The idea of holding the South Pacific Games originated with Dr A.H...
. Since then they have played in only a small number of internationals. Their first win came in 1983, in a 19-12 win over Niue
Niue national rugby union team
The Niue Island national rugby union team is the national team of the third tier rugby union playing nation of Niue Island. They first started playing in 1983 and have played just 10 games to date, four against the Cook Islands and three against Tahiti. Other games have been played against Fiji,...
, for the 7th South Pacific Games.