Wales Online veteran rugby commentators Simon Thomas, Mark Orders and Ben James have come up with the 50 best rugby players in the world in 2020.
The panel have placed Somosomo native and Flying Fijian centre Semi Radradra as the top of the 50.
Continue readingFiled under Fiji, Flying Fijians, International, Opinion, Personalities
The following is an opinion by sports writer Harry Latham-Coyle of Talk Rugby Union UK on the value Fiji and Pacific rugby has on the global arena which was evident for all to see in Fiji’s lone ANC match against Georgia last weekend.
Perhaps it was fitting that it was a side in white dress that made a most fashionable belated Autumn Nations Cup debut on Saturday.
Continue readingFiled under Autumn Nations Cup, Fiji, Flying Fijians, Manu Samoa, Opinion, Tonga
Peceli Yato and Ben Volavola hold up Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi at Sapporo. Photo: AP
The Flying Fijians played an expansive, flamboyant game in the first half of their opening Rugby World Cup match but bowed out graciously to a better team in the second half.
The cohesiveness of the forwards and backline was sublime forcing the clueless twice world champions to play second fiddle.
The final 21-39 scoreline hardly reflected on the actual action on field activity which saw Fiji still leading the Australians at the end of the third quarter 21-20.
Filed under 2019 Rugby World Cup, Australia, Fiji, Flying Fijians, Focus on rwc, Opinion, Wallabies
The pairing of Tevita Cavubati and Leone Nakarawa as locks for the opener against Australia is a foregone conclusion after manning those berths towards the end part of the Pacific Nations Cup and Tonga in the Pasifika challenge in Auckland.
The selected squad need more training at the Sigatoka sand dunes. Photo: FRU
With the predominant culture of servitude and silence currently pervading the country, there has been a lack of critical comments on the final selection of the 31-man squad for the Flying Fijians to be announced on Friday. Continue reading
Filed under Flying Fijians, France, Georgia, Manu Samoa, Opinion, Pacific Nations Cup, Rugby World Cup
The Brave Blossoms celebrate after upsetting the Springboks in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Photo: Getty Images
Just like the violent tsunami that hit Kamaishi, the aftereffects of the 2011 great Sendai 9.1 earthquake, a Tier 2 nation will win the Japanese Rugby World Cup after the final at the International Stadium in Yokohama on November 2.
Either hosts Japan or Fiji will win the number IX showcase event after Tier One nations New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and England dominated proceedings in the past eight tournaments.
Filed under All Blacks, Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, Flying Fijians, Japan, Opinion, Pacific Nations Cup, Rugby World Cup, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, Springboks, Wales, Wallabies
Kurtley Beale prepares for the rainy first Test against the All Blacks on August 16, 2014. Photo: LookPro
The resignation of Di Patston as the business manager of the Wallabies has escalated a in-house difficulty facing the Wallabies into the most serious crisis confronting the ARU since the introduction of professional rugby.
The alleged text message Kurtley Beale sent to teammates (and inadvertently to Patston) in June denigrated Patston in a way that absolutely requires a full inquiry, which the ARU has instigated.
Filed under Australia, Discipline, Opinion, Wallabies
O’Connor waiting in the wings for a chance at redemption. Photo: Patrick Hamilton, AFP
Yes, I know that James O’Connor has been a prat. An official at the ARU who had to deal with him all the time told me that O’Connor was the worst of the Three Amigos – O’Connor, Kurtley Beale and Quade Cooper.
He would encourage and lead his mates into trouble and then, somehow, slide away unscathed, while the other two copped the blame and the punishments.
Filed under Australia, Feature, Opinion, Personalities, Rugby Championship, Wallabies
Waratahs backrower Wycliff Palu attacks against the Brumbies last weekend. Photo: Roar
I have been genuinely surprised to read and hear suggestion that Michael Cheika’s team will start the Super Rugby final as anything other than favourites.
The Waratahs finished the season in top spot, scored the most tries by some margin, and conceded the second fewest in the competition.
They’ve comfortably been the best team in the competition in the back half of the season, too, and go into the final on an eight-game winning streak.
Filed under Feature, Opinion, Pacific Islanders, Super Rugby
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