Fiji national rugby sevens team


The Fiji National Rugby Sevens Team has competed in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Olympics. They won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, the country's first Olympic medal in any event. They are the only country in the world to have won the three major achievements in Sevens. They have won multiple World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Fiji Sevens is watched and enjoyed by fans around the world for its style of play — the "Flying Fijians" play with Fijian flair. Their passing and offloads can be unorthodox for traditional rugby coaching, and more similar to basketball style. Fiji is the only team to win the Sevens Treble, which is achieved by winning the Olympics, Sevens Series And World cup. Many other teams have won the sevens series and world cup but, Fiji is the only team to have won olympic gold.

History

The International Rugby Board 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 significant. 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.
The FRU again ran out of money in 2013 to support the national sevens team. The IRB had temporarily suspended funding due to concerns with FRU financial management and governance. The head coach went unpaid for months, other staff were terminated, and the team lacked funds for basic supplies such as rugby balls and bottled water.
Waisale Serevi is highly regarded as the best player ever in sevens rugby. Nicknamed the "maestro", played in this side from 1989 to 2006 leading them to countless tournament victories, two Sevens World Cups in 1997 and 2005.

World Rugby Sevens Series

RankTimesSeasons
1st42005-06, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018-2019
2nd61999-2000, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2017–18
3rd52000-01, 2002–03, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17
4th52001-02, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11
Total20

Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series four times — first in 2005-06, and most recently in 2018-19. Fiji are one of only two teams — along with New Zealand — to finish in the top four of the World Series every season since its inception.

Quadrennial tournaments

Summer Olympics

secured their first Olympic medal with a 43–7 win over Great Britain at the Deodoro Stadium in Rio, Brazil. The opening minute saw Osea Kolinisau left one and one with Tom Mitchell and although his fellow captain halted his progress, Kolinisau was still able to stretch and touch the ball down behind his head. Almost straight away, Fiji had a second try when Samisoni Viriviri muscled his way past two players before offloading to Jerry Tuwai to score under the posts. After that Britain were shell shocked and Fiji racked up a further five tries.

Rugby World Cup Sevens

Fiji has twice won the Rugby World Cup Sevens — first in 1997, and again in 2005. Both times, Waisale Serevi was chosen as player of the tournament.

Commonwealth Games

Tournament Victories

Current squad

Former squads

  1. Sevuloni Mocenacagi
  2. Josua Vakurunabili
  3. Kalione Nasoko
  4. Paula Dranisinukula
  5. Semi Radradra
  6. Jasa Veremalua
  7. Josua Tuisova
  8. Vatemo Ravouvou
  9. Jerry Tuwai
  10. Waisea Nacuqu
  11. Eroni Sau
  12. Amenoni Nasilasila
  13. Alasio Sovita Naduva

    Player records

The following section lists player records from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.
No.PlayerTries
1Jerry Tuwai134
2Nasoni Roko125
3Osea Kolinisau122
4Samisoni Viriviri120
5William Ryder105

Most points:
  1. Waisale Serevi
  2. Osea Kolinisau
  3. William Ryder
  4. Vatemo Ravouvou
  5. Nasoni Roko

    Former players

In addition to the players listed above, other notable players include: