Satala, Tuwai named to assist Gollings

Fijian Sevens playmaker Jerry Tuwai (2nd from right) plays in the Fun Flavour Super Seven’s series. Photo: FRU

Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor today announced the appointment of former Flying Fijians centre and 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup winner Viliame Satala as one of the assistant coaches for the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team.

 “This is a totally new approach from head coach Ben Gollings,” O’Connor said.

Baber steps down as national 7s team coach

Tokyo Olympics gold medal winning coach Gareth Baber. Photo: FRU

National men’s sevens coach Gareth Baber has stepped down from the Fijian men’s coaching role and will venture into his coaching career as a 15s mentor, announced today by Fiji Rugby Union.

“We totally respect the decision made by Gareth and thank him for his service to Fiji Rugby and to Fiji. We are all proud of Gareth achievement culminating in the gold medal defense at the Tokyo Olympics 2020,” FRU chief executive John O’Connor said.

Fiji win gold in Tokyo

Team Fiji rugby 7s halfback Team Waisea Nacuqu attacks against New Zealand. Graphics: Fiji Rugby Union

Fiji beat New Zealand 27-12 in the gold medal match at Tokyo Stadium to secure their second successive men’s Olympic sevens gold medal.

Kuruvoli, Volavola may combine again in second Test against All Blacks

Flying Fijians Manasa Mataele (left) and Eneriko Buliruarua try stopping a grubber from All Blacks inside centre David Havili in Fiji’s 23-47 loss at Dunedin. Photo: FRU

With three Australian halves not confirmed to make it in time, Flying Fijians head coach Vern Cotter may have to stick with last week’s combination of Simione Kuruvoli and Ben Volavola in the second Test against the All Blacks on Saturday.

Speaking in a Fiji Rugby Union media Zoom conference from Hamilton this afternoon Cotter said the team would have to adapt if the players from Australia didn’t make it, the team was prepared to do the best they could with what was available to them.

The ‘ludicrous’ build-up facing Fiji as they bid to defend Olympic gold

Semi Kunitani . . . Olympic champion

Coach Gareth Baber and his Fiji players are enduring the most “ludicrous” build-up ever to an Olympic Games that will mean his players will have been away from their families for 18 weeks by the time they complete their sevens gold medal defence in Japan.

All Blacks 7s win all six matches against Australia in warm-up for Olympics

Ngarohi McGarvey-Black scored twice for All Blacks sevens in their first win against Australia on Sunday. Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The All Blacks sevens were unbeaten after five matches and hammered Australia in Sunday’s first clash.

The All Blacks sevens hit Australia for six with a clean sweep in matches against their trans-Tasman rivals across three days of their Auckland warm-up tournament for the Tokyo Olympics.

Flying Fijians need to be 100% against the Kiwis: Cotter

Maori All Blacks Sean Wainui is tackled by Fiji Airways Flying Fijians flanker Semi Kunatani in the Fijian 27-10 win at the ANZ Stadium in Suva on July 15, 2019. Picture: JONA KONATACI <jkonataci@fijitimes.com.fj>

National coach Vern Cotter said the Flying Fijians to face New Zealand in seven weeks needed to be 100 percent in the unprecedented  two Test series against the New Zealand All Blacks.

“Our players who will be joining from Europe need to be aware that this is no small challenge but it’s a massive one as we get two test matches against the All Blacks in New Zealand so we know how challenging it’s going to be,” he said.

Tuisova’s switch from 13 to 8 does trick for Lyon

The Top 14 have shared on Twitter the dalliance of Josua Tuisova at No8 for Lyon last weekend. The Fijian, who has developed a fearsome reputation across Europe as a powerful winger or outside centre, briefly packed down at No8 for his club against Toulouse last Saturday.

Naqalevu opens floodgates for Clermont

Clermont’s flanker Peceli Yato attacks against Bayonne with centre Apisai Naqalevu in support. Photo: ASM Clermont.

Former national sevens player Apisai Naqalevu opened the floodgates for Clermont in a 73-3 rout of Bayonne in the Top 14 match.
The Naitasiri native’s try in the 12th minute was the first of 10 converted tries for the yellow and blue early this morning.
Flying Fijian loose forward Peceli Yato scored a brace in the 42nd and 68th minutes.
Clermont flyhalf Camille Lopez hauled a personal tally of 23 points, converting the 10 tries and opened with a penalty in the ninth minute.
The other seven tries were scored by lock Paul Jedrasiak (26m), left winger Samuel Ezeala (47m), halfback Morgan Parra (64m), number 8 Fritz Lee (71m), Jean-Pascal Barraque (73m), winger Peter Betham (78m) and full back Kotaro Matsushima (80m).
Bayonne’s only points came through a penalty by fullback Gaetan Germain in the 26th minute

Clermont team: 1.Ravai, 2.Fourcade, 3.Ojovan, 4.Jedrasiak, 5.Vahaamahina, 6.Yato, 7. Cancoriet, 8.Lee, 9.Parra, 10.Lopez (cap), 11 .Ezeala, 12.Moala, 13.Naqalevu, 14.Betham, 15.Matsushima

Replacements: 16.Pélissié, 17.Beria, 18.Everson, 19.Van Tonder, 20.Viallard, 21.Nanai-Williams, 22.Barraque, 23.Slimani.

The Bayonne team: 1.Cormenier, 2.Van Jaarsveld, 3.Nixon, 4.Pyle, 5.Mikautadze, 6.Monribot, 7.Hourcade (cap), 8.Amosa, 9.Zabalza, 10.Luc, 11.Duhau, 12.Hingano, 13.Muscarditz, 14.Ravouvou, 15.Germain.

Substitutes: 16.Delonca, 17.Pelo, 18.Heguy, 19.Taofifenua, 20.Rouet, 21.Fajardo, 22.Costosseque, 23.Tatafu

Castres loses to Racing 92

Castres Olympique inside centre Vilimoni Botitu offloads in the match against Racing 92. Photo: Castres Olympique.

Flying Fijian winger Filipo Nakosi scored the first try for Castres Olympique just before halftime to cut the deficit to 10-13.