The Fiji Times

Rebels hang tough for thrilling win over Reds

Melbourne have won a helter-skelter Super Rugby Pacific clash against Queensland with the lead changing hands six times at AAMI Park. The Rebels were in front when it counted, running in six tries to five to post a thrilling 40-34 victory in their Saturday night clash. The Reds could feel jilted with the TMO Brett...

Glamour at sports awards

It was a night of glamour for sporting federations around the country that came together to award the best athletes in their respective grades. The 2022 FASANOC Fiji Sports Awards had a big turnout with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka as chief guest. The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) dominated the awards list taking out seven out...

Pitching in millions – Contracts contribute up to $60m in remittances

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says remittance inflows from Fiji’s sportsmen and women contracted abroad remain one of the country’s highest foreign exchange earners. Speaking at the 2020 Fiji Sports Awards on Saturday, Mr Rabuka said this amounted to remittances between $30 million and $60m annually. “And totally, our people abroad remit, in the last calendar...

Rugby gives Taito a second chance

If there’s one thing Lui Taito has learned so far in life, it would be a well-known quote “talent is nothing without hard work.” The 28-year-old from the village of Namuamua in Namosi played a huge role in helping his Tabadamu Blues side reach the finals of the Men’s Cup in the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu...

Tabadamu wins own tournament

The EMS Post Fiji Tabadamu Blue walked away $6000 richer after winning the men’s cup final of its 2nd Fiji Bitter-sponsored tournament beating Rawaisa Taveuni at the Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka yesterday. After scoring a try each in the first half, both sides defended their lines well until the sound of the half-time hooter. A...

Fijiana Drua starts defence

Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua started their defense of the 2023 Buildcorp Super W title after a hard-fought victory against the ACT Brumbies W team by 12-7 at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park yesterday. The ACT Brumbies started strong, threatening the Drua try line in the first 20 minutes with strong scrums resulting in a few rolling...

Stoppages frustrate Male – Fijiana Drua wins opener

The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua started its 2023 Buildcorp Super W title defence on a low note. The Inoke Male-coached side fought hard against the ACT Brumbies to claim a close 12-7 victory at Nadi’s Prince Charles Park yesterday. Male said there was too much stoppages in the match which disrupted the Drua’s momentum. “We...

ABs door still shut to Japan-bound Mo’unga and overseas players

New Zealand Rugby has no plans to revisit its All Blacks selection policy on overseas-based players, despite the loss of No 10 Richie Mo’unga to Japan in 2024. The NZ Rugby board was presented with a proposal involving Beauden Barrett last year, which would have seen Barrett remain available for the All Blacks despite playing in...

Hurricanes make amends for last year’s shock loss by thrashing Moana Pasifika

At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland: Moana Pasifika 0, Hurricanes 59 (Josh Moorby try 8 min, Brett Cameron try 22 min, Cameron Roigard try 28 min Kini Naholo try 55 min, Salesi Rayasi tries 57 min, 66 min Ardie Savea try 68 min, Hame Faiva try 76 min, Peter Lakai try 80 min; Brett Cameron 7 cons). HT:...

Drua make history in Super W win over Brumbies in Nadi

The Fijiana Drua have celebrated an historic Super W rugby home clash in Nadi with a gritty 12-7 win over the Brumbies. The Drua were based in Australia last year in their debut season when they swept all before them to win the title undefeated. At home at Prince Charles Park in Nadi for the...

Rugby dominates sports awards; Ralulu wins Photograph of the Year award

The Fiji Rugby Union and its 7s teams dominated the 2022 Fiji Sports Awards winners list in Suva tonight. Fiji 7s nippy halfback Jerry Tuwai retained the Sportsman of the Year Award while Fijiana 7s captain Rusila Nagasau scooped the Sportswoman of the Year Award. The Fiji 7s team was named the Team of the...

Tabadamu 7s: EMS Tabadamu Blue edges Raiwasa Taveuni to win cup

The EMS Tabadamu Blue has claimed the men’s cup at the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s after defeating a strong Raiwasa Taveuni side, 17-15. After losing in the second elimination round of the 47th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s last weekend, Tabadamu Blue have been able to make a comeback against the men from the north. The...

Highlanders thrash Fjian Drua despite more injury woes

At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin: Highlanders 57 (Jermaine Ainsley try 15min, Ethan de Groot try 21min, Martin Bogado 2 tries 27min and 73min, Sam Gilbert try 29min, Mitch Hunt try 40min, Aaron Smith try 43min, Jonah Lowe 53min try, Cam Millar try 78min; Sam Gilbert 5 con, Cam Millar con). Fijian Drua 24 (Frank Lomani 2 tries 13min, 75min,...

Tabadamu 7s: Naweni wins U-21 cup

Naweni has claimed the under-21 cup after winning the final at the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s, defeating Belovula 26-5. The Navosa-based team certainly proved their point against the young men in blue, totally dominating both halves of the match. More in tomorrow’s edition of The Sunday Times

Tabadamu 7s: Double win for Ratu Filise

Ratu Filise has claimed the under-21 plate title after defeating a determined DXC Dominion Brothers side 12-7. They also managed to win the men’s bowl final after beating Devo Babas 21-0. The Tabadamu 7s is currently being held at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

Tabadamu 7s: U-21 Natabua Beez win bowl

Natabua Beez made a comeback today defeating Ravuka Sharks 7-5, in the Under-21 bowl final at the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s. Ravuka Sharks beat the Lautoka-based side in the cup semi-finals of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s a week ago in Suva and were unable to repeat the defeat at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

Tabadamu 7s: Raiwasa Taveuni too strong for Police Blue

Raiwasa Taveuni proved too strong for Fiji Bitter Marist champions, Police Blue, after defeating the servicemen 5-0 in the men’s cup semi-final at the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s. The men from the north will face EMS Tabadamu Blues in the final – Tabadamu Blues beat Police White 5-0. The final will take place today at...

Tabadamu 7s: Nadroga development win U-21 shield title

The Under-21 Nadroga Development team are the shield holders at the 2023 Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s. The side defeated after Labasa Servicemen 21 – 7 in the shield final. The Tabadamu 7s is currently being held at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

Tabadamu 7s: Naweni secures spot in U-21 cup final

Naweni has secured a spot in the under-21 cup final of the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s after defeating St Peter Navakawau 21-7 in the first semi-final. They will now face Belovula, who managed to scrape past a strong Vuda Kings 10-0. The Tabadamu 7s is currently being held at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka.

Cousins duel – Silktails ready to hunt down bulldogs

Today’s round two of the Ron Massey Cup competition will be on a whole other level of excitement at Churchill Park, Lautoka with the two opposing captains of the Kaiviti Silktails and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs being cousins. The Silktails will be led out by co-captain and five-eighth Rusiate Baleitamavua, while Penioni Tagituimua will guide the Bulldogs....

Tabadamu 7s: Police Blue book semifinal spot

Police Blue is heading into the semifinals of the men’s cup competition of the Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s after defeating Kombat Uluinakau in the first quarter-final, 14-7. Police Blue were crowned champions of the 47th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s and will be out to assert their dominance here in Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka. In other...

Masi’s clean break record

Olympic Games gold medallist Iosefo Masi burst onto the Super Rugby Pacific scene this season and has been a revelation for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua. Masi shares nine clean break record alongside Shaun Stevenson and midfield Alex Nankivell both of Chiefs on the stats tally while Mark Telea of the Blues and Max Jorgensen...

Reflection on round 4

The clash with the Queensland Reds in Brisbane last Sunday was the one that got away from the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, and hopefully it won’t come back to bite them during the play-off race. Neither team was completely happy with the effort. The Reds held on to win by 3 points, but they should...

Cakau hails day one success

Tabadamu 7s founder and former Fiji national rep Setefano Cakau, deemed day one of the 2nd Fiji Bitter Tabadamu 7s a success after a total of 70 teams in both men’s and under-21 divisions completed their pool games yesterday. Fans arrived in numbers yesterday at the Lawaqa Park to support their teams as they battled...

Fijiana Drua after win

The Inoke Male-coached Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua side is looking for a first win against the Brumbies on home soil at Prince Charles Park, Nadi at 1.35pm. The Fijiana Drua won the 2022 Super W season. It was their first time in that competition. The side will face the Brumbies today. Fijiana Drua coach Male...

Rugby battles await Drua sides

The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua and the Swire Shiping Fijian Drua teams will play this afternoon against the Brumbies and Highlanders. The Fijiana will host the Brumbies at Churchill Park, Lautoka, while the Drua will visit Dunedin. Fijiana ready for Brumbies clash The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua will open their Super W title defence against...

Come out in numbers, star says

Come out in numbers and support our team. This is the call made by Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua’s Vitalina Naikore ahead of the team’s clash with ACT Brumbies at Prince Charles Park in Nadi today. Naikore was one of nine women recruits from the passing-out parade yesterday after 10 weeks of training by the Fiji...

Kotobalavu chases dream; takes family legacy as an inspiration

Tavite Waqaliti Kotobalavu’s devastating form in the under-20 Fijian Drua is reminiscent of his dad, former Fiji national Joeli Kotobalavu and legendary grandfather Aleposo Waqaliti. Tavite, a towering utility back, has his sights on one day donning the white jumper. The 20-year-old has spent the past 10 years chasing that dream and if he stays...

Moana Pasifika still chasing first win but hoping history repeats against Hurricanes

Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika v Hurricanes Where: Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland. When: 7.05pm, Saturday. Coverage: Live on Sky Sport, live updates on Stuff from 6.45pm. Moana Pasifika will go into Saturday night’s game against the Hurricanes still looking for their first win of the season, but Aaron Mauger feels all is not lost. With eight of the 12 teams in Super...

Rugby

Blues overpower Force