The Fiji Times

Fijiana told to stay positive, enjoy game

The Team Fiji women’s rugby 7s side plans to showcase its Fijian fl air during the Tokyo Olympic Games. As part of the training program, the Saiasi Fuli coached team has been focusing on keeping the ball alive to apply pressure on the opposition. According to Fuli, the players have been advised to remain positive and enjoy their game. “It was all part of...

Dan poses threat to Fijians

GREAT Britain led by World Rugby Sevens Series all-time leading point’s scorer Dan Norton will provide the third challenge for Fiji in a space of a day and a half during the pool stage at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Fiji’s first challenge is playing Japan in the opening match at nine o’clock (Fiji Time 12pm) at the Tokyo Stadium on July...

John Mitchell quits England role to leave Eddie Jones without a right-hand man

Eddie Jones has lost another key aide in his England coaching team after his right-hand man John Mitchell agreed to join Premiership club side Wasps for next season. Only in February, New Zealander Mitchell had signed a new contract taking him through to the 2023 World Cup as defence coach, but the former All Blacks...

Can we accomplish the same feat in Tokyo

As we countdown days and hours for the men’s sevens rugby competition in the Olympics, there has been only one question in the minds of all rugby lov- ing fans, can we repeat the same feat as in Rio. In this COVID-19 ravaged world, the Olympics, which was supposed to be held last year, was deferred to this year with organisers under heavy...

Down memory lane

In 2016, our first Olympic Games gold medal provided a fairytale ending. Our boys stepped onto the podium to receive their gold medals from Princess Anne as tears flowed freely. The noise was deafening as Fijians took to the streets to express their excitement. The nation was at a halt, everything stopped as celebrations went wild. That moment is hard to de- scribe and put...

Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup in doubt

The All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup and Rugby Championship tests have been plunged into doubt after the government paused the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for eight weeks. The All Blacks are due to play three Bledisloe tests against Australia in Auckland on 7 August, Perth two weeks later, and in Wellington on 28 August. New...

Focus on task at hand, says Bower

Do your best and remain focused on the task at hand. That was Team Fiji Olympic Games chef de mission Patrick Bower’s message to athletes as they began final preparations for the start of competition next week. He urged them to set aside thoughts and emotions about the COVID-19 crisis at home and play their...

Team Fiji set for Olympics start – Bower

All are safe and well at the Olympic Games Village in Japan, says Team Fiji chef de mission Patrick Bower. The former Suva school teacher said Fiji’s athletes and officials had been strictly following the games protocols laid down by Japan amidst the rise and scare of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. “We are all safe and healthy,” Bower said from the Games Village in Tokyo...

Dropping players worst part – Baber

The worst part of being a coach is dropping players who are part of a training group when naming the final squad for any major tournament according Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s coach Gareth Baber. An 18-member extended squad was named for the PacificAus Sports Oceania 7s tournament in Australia last month as part of Fiji’s hit-out in preparation for the Tokyo Olympic Games...

Fijiana works on creating balance

Team Fiji women’s rugby 7s side is working to create a balance between the leaders in the group, senior players and newcomers in a bid to get the right combinations for the Tokyo Olympic Games. The Team Fiji women’s rugby 7s team is in Pool B with Canada, France and Brazil. The side faced a tough challenge on day one of...

Getting information on teams quite difficult – Baber

Collecting vital information on opponents participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games has proven to be a difficult task for the Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s side. Team analysis plays an important role when coaches map out their game plan for tournaments. However, with the lack of tournaments especially the cancellation of the 2019/2020 World Rugby HSBC Sevens because COVID-19 pandemic meant that many nations had been out...

‘I want to be the best coach’

Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s coach Gareth Baber has likened Fiji as his home and is taking on the challenge of not only improving the standard of the sport in the country but improving himself as a coach at every opportunity. The Welshman took over from Ben Ryan who guided Fiji to the gold medal victory at the Rio Olympic...

Support pours in for Fiji 7s team

Support has been pouring in for our national 7s team as they prepare to defend their gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics. Former students of Queen Victoria and Ratu Kadavulevu School living in the US held a fundraising drive for our boys. Speaking on behalf of the former students Petaia Usakilakeba said the fundraising was organised by the Pacific Northwest QVSOB in association...

All Blacks’ Bledisloe Cup tests up in the air after government pauses travel bubble

The All Blacks’ season has been plunged into turmoil after the government paused the quarantine-free travel bubble with Australia for eight weeks. Ian Foster’s All Blacks are due to play three Bledisloe tests against Australia, at Eden Park on August 7, in Perth on August 21, and at Sky Stadium, Wellington, on August 28. The...

Safe and ready for games

Team Fiji members are safe amidst the rise inCOVID-19 cases in Japan. This was relayed from the games village in Tokyo yesterday by Team Fiji chef de mission Patrick Bower. “We are all safe and well,” Bower said. “Tell everyone that we are safe and are ready for the games. We are under strict protocols by the government here....

Smart rugby – Fijians prepare ABs for championship

The Tests between Fiji and New Zealand were smart moves by New Zealand Rugby to prepare the All Blacks for the coming Rugby Championship and the Bledisloe Cup. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic NZR looked to its island brothers to prepare for its coming six internationals which could determine its world ranking. NZ played Tonga, and Fiji which rattled them and...

Fijians show lot of resilience against the pandemic

Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s team has shown a lot of resilience dealing with the likes of the lock down, quarantine and continue their training with the tight logistics set out to prepare for the Olympic Games gold medal defence in Tokyo next week. The Gareth Baber-coached team spent several weeks preparing in a lockdown bubble in Suva before travelling to...

7s coach rates Maqala highly

Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s coach Garth Baber has been impressed with the rise of talented Ra native Sireli Maqala selecting him as the 13th player for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Maqala, who hails from Burewai Village in Nakorotabu, displayed a lot of energy and pace during the Pacifi cAus Sports Oceania 7s tournament in Australia last month. The 21 year old...

Team works on kick offs and restart

Ball possession is a vital component in rugby 7s. The Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s team has been working on this area especially with their kick offs and restarts as the side build’s up for the Tokyo Olympic Games. Team Fiji men’s rugby 7s coach Gareth Baber said they did this well in this department at the PacificAus Sports Oceania 7s tournament in Australia last month...

Captain Jones staying calm for ‘special’ Lions return

British & Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones has described his remarkable return from injury to face South Africa in the first test as “special”, but won’t let the emotion of the occasion distract him from the job at hand. Jones dislocated his shoulder during the 28-10 victory over Japan in Edinburgh on June 26,...

Lions coach Warren Gatland furious at ‘betrayal of trust’ as test team leaked early

A furious British & Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland says he will change his team naming methods after his squad for the opening test against the Springboks was leaked. Gatland informed his players of the team ahead of their midweek training in Cape Town and The Times in London quickly produced it – getting the...

Rugby-Bok centre De Allende says lucky to play again after fire pit explosion

(Reuters) – South Africa centre Damian de Allende said he went into “a bit of a shock” after he was burned in a fire pit accident last month and is lucky to play again following his selection for Saturday’s opening test against the British & Irish Lions. De Allende and Springbok lock RG Snyman were...

Rugby-New deal allows All Black Tuipulotu to make overseas switch

(Reuters) – Auckland Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu will spend next season playing in Japan after signing a contract with New Zealand Rugby through to 2025. Tuipulotu led the Blues to the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman title in June and has been linked with Top League side Toyota Verblitz after the new deal permitted the lock to...

Rugby-Undercooked Boks still confident despite lack of game time

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – South Africa will be at a disadvantage due to a lack of international rugby over the last 20 months but are still confident of success against the British & Irish Lions, first-choice hooker Bongi Mbonambi said on Tuesday. He will be scrumming down in the front row in the first test...

Rugby-Itoje banks on his experience to energise the Lions

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Maro Itoje believes he can energise the British & Irish Lions and put them on the front foot in the physical battle with South Africa if he is selected in the second row for the first test in Cape Town on Saturday. The England international is a front-runner to be named...

Rugby-Lions must contain South Africa’s magician Kolbe

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) – Much is made of South Africa’s forward power and territorial kicking game, but British & Irish Lions winger Anthony Watson believes the Springboks will also pack plenty of punch from their backs, not least the twinkle-toed Cheslin Kolbe. Watson started all three tests on the last Lions tour of New Zealand...

Dragons contract for Doge

Flying Fijians prop Mesake Doge has secured a good future from the exposure of playing top level rugby after the two recent Tests against the All Blacks. Fiji gained international attraction and admiration after exposing the weaknesses of the world’s No.2 team and the former Rugby World Cup’s Webb Ellis Trophy holder in their two-Test series in New Zealand. Doge has signed to play for Dragons Rugby in Wales...

Best of luck – President Konrote wishes team Fiji well

Fijian President Jioji Konrote has challenged and encouraged Team Fiji athletes and officials to do well at the Olympic Games in Japan. With the Games starting on Friday evening with the official opening, Konrote urged Team Fiji members to perform above expectation despite the threat and the infection of the COVID-19 pandemic. Konrote spoke to members of the contingent through a recorded virtual message that was played at the...

TV station secures live telecast

Fijians will get to enjoy more telecast of sports tournaments soon, thanks to Mai TV, Digicel and Sky Television. After the success of the Flying Fijians v All Blacks Tests, Mai TV yesterday announced that it has secured Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 coverage rights which starts on Friday until August 8. “Despite the difficult economic times, Mai TV...

Rugby

Springboks v British and Irish Lions: Warren Gatland’s Lions win first test in Cape Town

24th July