Western Crusaders are a Fiji

Fiji

Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...

an rugby union

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...

 team. They compete in the Colonial Cup

Colonial Cup

The 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...

 which began on 3 February 2007. The franchise area covers Lautoka

Lautoka

Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar...

, Nadi

Nadi

Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...

, and Yasawa

Yasawa

Yasawa, also called Assawa and Ysava, is the main island of the Yasawa Group, an archipelago in Fiji's Western Division. Located at 17.00° South and 177.23° East, it covers an area of 32 square kilometers. It has a maximum altitude of 244 meters. The population was 1120 in 1983.- References :...

.

History

The franchise was one of four original teams created for the inaugural Colonial Cup in 2004. Western Crusaders made the Grand final of the 2005 Colonial Cup but lost 35-27 to Suva Highlanders

Suva Highlanders

Suva Highlanders are a Fijian rugby union team. They compete in Fiji's premier rugby union competition, the Colonial Cup. The franchise area covers Suva, Naitasiri and Kadavu.-History:...

. Bligh Roosters joined the 2007 competition, Western Crusaders gave up Tavua

Tavua

Tavua is a town in Fiji, 91 kilometres from Nadi and 9 kilometres from the gold mining settlement of Vatukoula. It was formally incorporated as a Town in 1992, with a land area of 100 square kilometres, and had a population of 2,418 at the 1996 census, the last to date.Tavua is governed by a...

, Vatukoula

Vatukoula

Vatukoula is a gold mining settlement in Fiji, 9 kilometers inland from the Town of Tavua on the island of Viti Levu. It was established in 1934....

, Ba and Ra to the new franchise.

2007 Squad

Taniela Rawaqa, Jona Nareki, Kusitino Vatu, Vereniki Goneva, Atunaisa Ratu, Jo Tora, Aseri Latianara, Waisea Luveniyali

Waisea Luveniyali

Waisea Sedre Luveniyali is a Fijian rugby union footballer.-Career:He plays as a fly-half, formerly for Fiji Warriors....

, Aporosa Vata (capt), Sunia Nadruku, Kelepi Ketedromo, Sam Tabua, Ifereimi Naruma, Ropate Senikuraciri, Jonacani Batirua, Sikeli Donu, Aseri Tale, Sikeli Gavidi, Sikeli Nasau, Aseri Buli, Paula Cata, Semi Lotawa

External links

• Western Crusaders