Fiji at the Rugby World Cup
The Fiji national rugby union team has played in all Rugby World Cup tournaments, except in 1995, when they did not qualify. Their best performances were in the inaugural 1987 tournament and in the 2007 tournament, when they made it to the quarter finals.
Nation | Number of appearances | First appearance | Most recent appearance | Streak | Best result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fiji | 7 | 1987 | 2015 | 5 | Quarter finals, 1987, 2007 |
By position
- 1987 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals.
- 1991 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
- 1995 Rugby World Cup Did not qualify.
- 1999 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter final play-offs.
- 2003 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
- 2007 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals.
- 2011 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
- 2015 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
By match
1987 Rugby World Cup
Pool 3 games –
Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New Zealand | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 190 | 34 | 6 |
Fiji | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 56 | 101 | 2 |
Argentina | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 49 | 90 | 2 |
Italy | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 40 | 110 | 2 |
1987-05-24 |
Argentina | 9–28 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Try: Penalty try Con: Porta Pen: Porta |
Tries: Gale Naivilawasa Nalaga Savai Con: Koroduadua (2) Rokowailoa Pen: Koroduadua (2) |
1987-05-27 |
New Zealand | 74–13 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Gallagher (4) Green (4) Kirk Kirwan Penalty try Whetton Con: Fox (10) Pen: Fox (2) |
Try: Cama Pen: Koroduadua (3) |
1987-05-31 |
Fiji | 15–18 | Italy |
---|---|---|
Try: Naivilawasa Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua (2) Drop: Quro |
Tries: Cuttitta Cucchiella Mascioletti Pen: Collodo Drop: Collodo |
Quarter finals –
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
6 June – Lancaster Park, Christchurch | ||||||||||
New Zealand | 30 | |||||||||
14 June – Ballymore, Brisbane | ||||||||||
Scotland | 3 | |||||||||
New Zealand | 49 | |||||||||
8 June – Ballymore, Brisbane | ||||||||||
Wales | 6 | |||||||||
Wales | 16 | |||||||||
20 June – Eden Park, Auckland | ||||||||||
England | 3 | |||||||||
New Zealand | 29 | |||||||||
7 June – Eden Park, Auckland | ||||||||||
France | 9 | |||||||||
France | 31 | |||||||||
13 June – Concord Oval, Sydney | ||||||||||
Fiji | 16 | |||||||||
France | 30 | Third place | ||||||||
7 June – Concord Oval, Sydney | ||||||||||
Australia | 24 | |||||||||
Australia | 33 | Wales | 22 | |||||||
Ireland | 15 | Australia | 21 | |||||||
18 June – Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua | ||||||||||
1987-06-07 |
Fiji | 16–31 | France |
---|---|---|
Tries: Qoro Damu Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua (2) |
Tries: Rodriguez (2) Lorieux Lagisquet Con: Laporte (3) Pen: Laporte (2) Drop: Laporte |
1991 Rugby World Cup
Pool D games –
Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Points France 3 0 0 82 25 9 Canada 2 0 1 45 33 7 Romania 1 0 2 31 64 5 Fiji 0 0 3 27 63 3
1991-10-08 |
France | 33–9 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Lafond (3), Sella (2), Camberabero Con: Camberabero (3) Pen: Camberabero |
Tries: Naruma Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua |
1991-10-12 |
Fiji | 15–17 | Romania |
---|---|---|
Pen: Turuva (2) Drop: Rabaka (2), Turuva |
Tries: Ion, Dumitras, Sasu Con: Racean Pen: Nichitean |
1995 Rugby World Cup
Did not qualify
1999 Rugby World Cup
Pool 3 games –
Team Won Drawn Lost For Against Points France 3 0 0 108 52 6 Fiji 2 0 1 124 68 4 Canada 1 0 2 114 82 2 Namibia 0 0 3 28 186 0
1999-10-01 |
Fiji | 67–18 | Namibia |
---|---|---|
Tries: Fero Lasagavibau (2), Setareki Tawake Naivaluwaqa, Jacob Raulini, Viliame Satala, Alifereti Mocelutu Vuivau, Greg Smith, Imanueli Tikomaimakogai, Emori Katalau Con: Waisale Serevi (8) Pen: Waisale Servei (2) |
Tries: Mario Jacobs, Johannes Senekal Con: Leandre Van Dyk Pen: Leandre Van Dyk (2) |
1999-10-09 |
Fiji | 38–22 | Canada |
---|---|---|
Tries: Viliame Satala (2), Marika Vunibaka, Fero Lasagavibau Con: Nicky Little (3) Pen: Nicky Little (3) Drop: Nicky Little |
Tries: Mike James Con: Gareth Rees Pen: Gareth Rees (4) Drop: Gareth Rees |
1999-10-16 |
France | 28–19 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Christophe Juillet, Christophe Dominici Con: Richard Dourthe (2) Pen: Richard Dourthe (2), Christophe Lamaison |
Tries: Alfred Uluinayau Con: Nicky Little Pen: Nicky Little (4) |
Quarter-final play-offs –
Quarter-final play-offs | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | |||||||||||||||
South Africa | 44 | |||||||||||||||||
England | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
England | 45 | |||||||||||||||||
Fiji | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
South Africa | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
Australia | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
Australia | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
Wales | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
Australia | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
France | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
New Zealand | 30 | |||||||||||||||||
Scotland | 18 | |||||||||||||||||
Scotland | 35 | |||||||||||||||||
Samoa | 20 | |||||||||||||||||
New Zealand | 31 | |||||||||||||||||
France | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
France | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
Argentina | 26 | |||||||||||||||||
Argentina | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
Ireland | 24 |
1999-10-20 |
England | 45–24 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Dan Luger, Neil Back, Nick Beal, Phil Greening Con: Matt Dawson, Jonny Wilkinson Pen: Jonny Wilkinson (7) |
Tries: Viliame Satala, Meli Nakauta, Imanueli Tikomaimakogai Con: Nicky Little (3) Pen: Waisale Serevi |
2003 Rugby World Cup
Group B games –
Team | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | BP | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
France | 4 | 0 | 0 | 204 | 70 | 4 | 20 |
Scotland | 3 | 0 | 1 | 102 | 97 | 2 | 14 |
Fiji | 2 | 0 | 2 | 98 | 114 | 2 | 10 |
United States | 1 | 0 | 3 | 86 | 125 | 2 | 6 |
Japan | 0 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 163 | 0 | 0 |
2003-10-11 |
France | 61–18 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Dominici (2), Harinordoquy, Jauzion (3), Ibañez Con: Michalak (4) Pen: Michalak (6) |
Tries: Naevo, Caucaunibuca Con: Little Pen: Little (2) |
2003-10-15 |
Fiji | 19–18 | United States |
---|---|---|
Tries: Naevo Con: Little Pen: Little (4) |
Tries: van Zyl, Schubert Con: Hercus Pen: Hercus (2) |
2003-10-23 |
Fiji | 41–13 | Japan |
---|---|---|
Tries: Tuilevu (2), Ligairi (2), Vunibaka Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (4) |
Tries: Miller Con: Miller Pen: Miller Drop: Miller |
2003-11-01 |
Scotland | 22–20 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Smith Con: Paterson Pen: Paterson (5) |
Tries: Caucaunibuca (2) Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (2) |
2007 Rugby World Cup
Fiji were placed in Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup along with Wales, Canada, Japan and Australia. After beating Japan and Canada in close matches, Fiji rested several key players against Australia for the crucial game against Wales. Australia defeated Fiji 55–12. Fiji's fate in the tournament came down to a "winner advances" game against Wales which Fiji won 38–34 and qualified for the quarter-finals for the second time. Former Wallaby great Michael Lynagh described the see-sawing match as one of the best matches "of all time". Fiji lost their quarter final match against South Africa, however their above expectations performance in the tournament resulted in them moving up to 9th in the world rankings – their highest ever position.
Pool B games –
|
|
Quarter finals match-
Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Final | ||||||||
6 October – Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | ||||||||||
Australia | 10 | |||||||||
13 October – Stade de France, St-Denis | ||||||||||
England | 12 | |||||||||
England | 14 | |||||||||
6 October – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff | ||||||||||
France | 9 | |||||||||
New Zealand | 18 | |||||||||
20 October – Stade de France, St-Denis | ||||||||||
France | 20 | |||||||||
England | 6 | |||||||||
7 October – Stade Vélodrome, Marseille | ||||||||||
South Africa | 15 | |||||||||
South Africa | 37 | |||||||||
14 October – Stade de France, St-Denis | ||||||||||
Fiji | 20 | |||||||||
South Africa | 37 | Bronze Final | ||||||||
7 October – Stade de France, St-Denis | ||||||||||
Argentina | 13 | |||||||||
Argentina | 19 | France | 10 | |||||||
Scotland | 13 | Argentina | 34 | |||||||
19 October – Parc des Princes, Paris | ||||||||||
7 October 2007 15:00 |
South Africa | 37–20 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Fourie 13' m Smit 35' m Pietersen 51' c Smith 70' c James 80' c Con: Montgomery (3/5) Pen: Steyn (1/1) 8' Montgomery (1/2) 63' |
Report | Tries: Delasau 57' c Bobo 59' c Con: Bai (2/2) Pen: Bai (2/2) 26', 44' |
Hosting
So far Fiji has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments. Due to the lack of facilities, and the small size of the island nation, it is unlikely it will do so in the future.
References
- Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
- Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)