Fiji national rugby union team (sevens)

Fiji

Union	Fiji Rugby Union
Coach(es)	Ben Ryan
Captain(s)	Osea Kolinisau
Team kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances	4 (First in 1993)
Best result	Champions, 1997, 2005

The Fiji national rugby sevens team is one of the most popular and successful rugby sevens teams in the world and has won the Hong Kong Sevens a record twelve times since its inception in 1976. Fiji has also won the Rugby World Cup Sevens twice — in 1997 and 2005 (coincidentally, the two times it has been held in Hong Kong). The Fiji national rugby union sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens World Series and at the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

History

The International Rugby Board (IRB) expanded the sevens rugby competition to become a series of 11 tournaments around the world. The debt the FRU incurred from the 2000 sevens series were horrific. At the end of December 2000, the FRU was burdened with accumulated losses of F$933,306. Fiji appealed to the IRB for funding arguing that the sevens tournament was built around Fiji and they would not be able to participate without such funding. From that appeal flowed participation funds that enabled the islands teams to play in the World Sevens Series fully funded. By the end of November 2001, the FRU was sitting on a surplus of F$560,311 compared with the previous year's net loss of F$675,609. Waisale Serevi a very well known player in sevens rugby considered as a maestro, played in this side leading them to their victories in the two Sevens World Cup on 1997 and 2005. He also coached the side from 2005-2007.

Tournament history

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Fiji has twice won the Rugby World Cup Sevens — first in 1997, and again in 2005.

World Cup Sevens record
Year	Round	Position	Played	Won	Lost	Drew
1993	Cup Semi Finalists	3rd	9	7	2	0
1997	Winners	1st	7	7	0	0
2001	Cup Semi Finalists	3rd	7	6	1	0
2005	Winners	1st	8	8	0	0
2009	Quarterfinals	5th	4	3	1	0
2013	Third Place	3rd	6	4	2	0
Total	2 Titles	6/6	41	35	6	0

Honours

Current Squad

• Pio Tuwai
• Semi Kunatani
• Jasa Veremalua
• Josaia Rasuqe
• Isake Katonibau
• Aminioni Nasilasila
• Vatemo Ravouvou
• Osea Kolinisau
• Jerry Tuwai
• Samisoni Viriviri
• Savenaca Rawaca
• Apisai Domolailai
• Sammy Boyles

Non-Travelling

• George Qio(ankle injury)
• Paula Koroinavakariqa(shoulder charge)(red card)(miss 2 tourna

Former players

Coaches

• Ben Ryan (Head Coach)
• (qusi ni buno) Emosi Vananalagi
• (sava ni timi) Emosi Vananalagi
• (knee massage)Emosi Vananalagi

See also

• Fiji Rugby Union
• Fiji national rugby union team
• Rugby World Cup Sevens

References

• McLaren, Bill A Visit to Hong Kong in Starmer-Smith, Nigel & Robertson, Ian (eds) The Whitbread Rugby World '90 (Lennard Books, 1989)