Fiji Warriors

Fiji Warriors
Union Fiji Rugby Union
Nickname(s) Warriors, Fiji A
Emblem(s) the Palm
Team kit

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 (formerly known as the Pacific Rugby Cup) against teams such as Samoa A, Tonga A, and Argentina's Pampas XV.[1]

The 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, the Fiji A team 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.[2] This result was repeated in the second (and concluding) Punjas Series in 2011.[3]

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.

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.

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

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.[4]

Warriors Head Coach: Fiji Senirusi Seruvakula

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province
Sireli Ledua (c) Hooker (1985-12-12) 12 December 1985 6 Fiji Northland
Jale Sassen Hooker (1992-09-06) 6 September 1992 0 Fiji Tailevu
Seru Cakobau Hooker (1988-05-22) 22 May 1988 0 Fiji Nadroga
Leeroy Atalifo Prop (1988-03-10) 10 March 1988 1 Fiji Suva
Taniela Koroi Prop (1990-02-08) 8 February 1990 1 New Zealand Wellington
Peni Ravai Prop (1990-06-16) 16 June 1990 2 Fiji Nadroga
Kirwan Sanday Prop (1991-02-13) 13 February 1991 0 Australia Easts Tigers
Joeli Veitayaki Jr. Prop 0 Fiji Naitasiri
Apisai Naikatini Lock (1985-04-04) 4 April 1985 18 New Zealand Wellington
Savenaca Tabakanalagi Lock (1986-08-31) 31 August 1986 0 Fiji Suva
Mataiasi Ucutabua Lock 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Meli Baivatu Flanker (1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Jone Dyer Flanker 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Malakai Namalo Flanker 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Timoci Sauvoli Flanker 0 Fiji Nadroga
Jolame Bera Number 8 (1984-02-01) 1 February 1984 0 Fiji Suva
Serupepeli Vularika Scrum-half 0 Fiji Suva
Emori Waqa Scrum-half (1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 0 Fiji Tailevu
Isoa Donaldson Fly-half (1986-09-13) 13 September 1986 0 Fiji Nadroga
Kini Douglas Fly-half (1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 0 Fiji Naitasiri
Saimoni Tuilaucala Centre 0 Fiji Tavua
John Stewart Centre 0 Fiji Suva
Eroni Vasiteri Centre (1989-05-27) 27 May 1989 0 Fiji Nadroga
Nacani Wakaya Wing 0 Fiji Suva
Josaia Qumi Wing 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Sam Speight Wing (1985-10-03) 3 October 1985 0 Fiji Lautoka
Kitione Ratu Fullback 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Tikilaci Vuibau Fullback (1992-08-14) 14 August 1992 0 Fiji Northland

Record

Honours

Pacific Challenge (formerly the Pacific Rugby Cup)

Season standings

Pacific Rugby Cup

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final  Notes  
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 540115573+822 1 19 26–17   Won final against Fiji Barbarians
2009 2nd 530216889+793 2 17 19–7   Won final against Upolu Samoa
2008 6th 510470104−340 3 7   Did not compete in finals
2007 4th 52039390+30 1 11   Did not compete in finals
2006 2nd 531111272+401 1 17 5–10   Lost final to Savaii Samoa

Squads

References

  1. "PRC 2012 set for kick-off". Fiji Rugby. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 27 January 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. Match 2 Report Fiji Live.
  3. Fiji lose but claim Punjas Series
  4. Seruvakula Names Team to Uruguay

External links

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