Rugby

Rugby Union is the most popular sport played in Fiji. Rugby started in the 1880′s by European and Fijian soldiers of the Native Constabulary at Ba.

Fiji is also represented in League and are ranked 16th on the International Rugby League Board World ranking with 68.78 points.

Rugby Sevens will debut as an Olympic sport at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include the sport at the IOC Congress on 9th October 2009.

We’ll be publishing a more comprehensive guide to Olympic Rugby History soon.

On the HSBC Sevens World Series, Fiji currently ranks at second place. After a glorious win at the London Sevens thrashing Samoa 38-15 in May, 2012 leaving them with a whopping 161 points in the series only 6 points behind New Zealand on 167.

Touch rugby is played by Fijians on all types of surfaces from reclaimed land in Suva, to sandy beach areas at low tide. You can witness endless games of ‘touch rugby’ as you drive along the road between Suva and Nadi. Most villages have a rugby club with club competitions extremely popular. Adequate equipment in these clubs is very scarce with many playing in bare feet however it doesn’t seem to slow them down. Primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions also have rugby teams with competition between the secondary schools being particularly fierce. Provincial rugby is also fanatically supported with supporters hiring buses to ensure they get to see and support their teams in the finals.

Unlike more developed countries, you will be able to catch rugby stars up close and personal at their training sessions near the National Stadium. Fiji rugby, whether 7′s, league or union is an integral part of Fiji’s lifestyle, lacking in the areas of monetary sponsorship and rewards but definitely not lacking in enthusiasm, dedication and natural ability.