Fiji Warriors
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| Union | Fiji Rugby Union | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Warriors, Fiji A | |
| Emblem(s) | the Palm | |
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The Fiji Warriors, also referred to as Fiji A, is a national representative rugby team of rugby union in Fiji. It is the second-tier side to the Fiji national rugby union team. The Warriors team is selected from players in the Fijian domestic competitions and competes in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge against Samoa A and Tonga A.[1] Since 2016, the Fiji Warriors team has played in the Americas Pacific Challenge against national A teams from North and South America. As of 2017, the Warriors will also play in Australia's National Rugby Championship.
History
Fiji's national A team has made several tours to South America, the earliest being in 2003 where they defeated Uruguay by 24–3 in Montevideo.[2] But the history of the second national team can be traced back almost half a century earlier to 1955 when a Fiji XV side undertook a two week tour of Samoa and was undefeated in all three matches played.[3]
The Fiji Warriors first played in the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2006, but the team was one of two Fijian sides in the competition for the first five years – the other being the Fiji Barbarians – and so it was not considered to be Fiji A for that period.
In 2010, Fiji A played two matches against Tonga A in the first Punjas Series. The team had one win and one loss but claimed the series on aggregate scores.[4] This result was repeated in the second (and concluding) Punjas Series in 2011.[5]
The Pacific Rugby Cup was reorganised in 2011, with Fiji Warriors becoming the sole Fijian representative in the PRC, which has since been mainly contested by national 'A' teams. From 2011 onward the Fiji Warriors team has effectively been Fiji A.
In 2012, the Fiji A team toured to Ireland where they suffered one of their heaviest defeats, beaten 53–0 at Limerick by the Ireland Wolfhounds.[6]
At the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Challenge, the Fiji Warriors were the runner-up, with wins over Junior Japan and Samoa A and two defeats against the Argentine Pampas XV. In May 2015, the Fiji Warriors made a South American tour to play Uruguay and an Argentina XV, winning all three matches. In 2016, it played World Rugby Pacific Challenge and also World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge.
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama met with the Australian Rugby Union in 2017 discussing a pathway for development of Fijian rugby players. The Fiji Warriors will join the National Rugby Championship in 2017, funded by World Rugby.
Current squad
Fiji Warriors 28-man squad for the uncapped June matches against Uruguay and Pampas XV, acting as 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-ups for all three nations. The team will be coached by Senirusi Seruvakula, who will work closely with the national head coach John McKee.[7]
Warriors Head Coach: 
Senirusi Seruvakula
- Caps Updated: 15 May 2015
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
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Record
Honours
Americas Pacific Challenge
- Runner-up: (1) 2016
Pacific Challenge (formerly the Pacific Rugby Cup)
Season standings
Americas Pacific Challenge
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final Notes 2016 2nd 3 2 0 1 127 65 +62 4 0 12 — Runner-up on league table (no final)
Pacific Challenge
Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final Notes 2016 1st 3 3 0 0 134 34 +100 3 0 15 36–0 Won final against Samoa A 2015 2nd 3 2 0 1 145 42 +103 2 1 11 9–17 Lost final to Argentina's Pampas XV 2014 3rd 3 2 0 1 154 59 95 2 1 11 — Won 3rd place play-off 54–21 against Tonga A 2013 1st 6 2 2 2 118 155 -37 2 0 14 — Title winner on league table (no final) 2012 1st 8 7 0 1 205 165 40 3 0 31 — Title winner on league table (no final) 2011 1st 8 4 0 4 144 201 -57 0 1 17 — Title winner on league table (no final) 2010 1st 5 4 0 1 155 73 +82 2 1 19 26–17 Won final against Fiji Barbarians 2009 2nd 5 3 0 2 168 89 +79 3 2 17 19–7 Won final against Upolu Samoa 2008 6th 5 1 0 4 70 104 −34 0 3 7 — Did not compete in finals 2007 4th 5 2 0 3 93 90 +3 0 1 11 — Did not compete in finals 2006 2nd 5 3 1 1 112 72 +40 1 1 17 5–10 Lost final to Savaii Samoa
Squads
- Waisea Daveta*
- Viliame Veikoso*
- Setefano Somoca*
- Sekonaia Kalou*
- Tevita Cavubati**
- Aca Ratuva**
- Jimilai Naikadawa**
- Anare Koliavu
- Nemia Kenatale*
- Taniela Rawaqa**
- Isoa Neivua**
- Ravai Fatiaki*
- Jo Naisilisili**
- Campese Ma'afu*
- Navi Bolatagici
- Penijamini Makutu**
- Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
- Rupeni Nasiga*
- Timoci Vakadranu
- Samu Bola**
- Waisale Vatuvoka
- Jonetani Ralulu**
- Jona Tuitoga
- Paula Tiko
- Adriu Delai**
- Paula Karatu.
Notes
- * denotes players who were in the Fiji 2011 RWC squad.
- ** denotes players who have played for Fiji in a Test.
- *** denotes players who have played 7s for Fiji in the IRB Series.
International results
Matches against national teams or national 'A" teams up to and including 2014 Pacific Rugby Cup:
16-04-2010 (PS) Fiji A 12–27 Tonga A National Stadium, Suva 23-04-2010 (PS) Fiji A 21–3 Tonga A Churchill Park, Lautoka 19-03-2011 (PRC) Fiji Warriors 21–14 Tonga A Churchill Park, Lautoka 22-03-2011 (PRC) Samoa A 12–23 Fiji Warriors Churchill Park, Lautoka 13-08-2011 (PS) Fiji A 27–12 Tonga A Churchill Park, Lautoka 19-08-2011 (PS) Fiji A 30–32 Tonga A Churchill Park, Lautoka 15-10-2012 (PRC) Fiji Warriors 42–34 Samoa A Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa 19-10-2012 (PRC) Tonga A 16–25 Fiji Warriors Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa 18-03-2014 (PRC) Junior Japan 13–99 Fiji Warriors Bond University, Gold Coast 23-03-2014 (PRC) Fiji Warriors 54–21 Tonga A TG Milner Oval, Sydney
References
- ↑ "PRC 2012 set for kick-off". Fiji Rugby. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
- ↑ Fiji XV Tour - Montevideo. ESPN. 13 August 2003.
- ↑ Fiji XV tour 1955. ESPN.
- ↑ Match 2 Report Fiji Live.
- ↑ Fiji lose but claim Punjas Series.
- ↑ Fiji XV Tour - Limerick, 17 November 2012. ESPN.
- ↑ Seruvakula Names Team to Uruguay
External links
- 2014 Pacific Rugby Cup News on oceaniarugby.com