Fiji Warriors

The Fiji Warriors, also referred to as Fiji A, is a national representative rugby team of rugby union in Fiji. It is the second-tier side to the Fiji national team. The Warriors team is selected from players in the Fijian domestic competitions and competes in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge against Samoa A and Tonga A.[1] Since 2016, the Fiji Warriors team has played in the Americas Pacific Challenge against national A teams from North and South America.

Fiji Warriors
UnionFiji Rugby Union
Nickname(s)Warriors, Fiji A
Emblem(s)the Palm
Coach(es)Senirusi Seruvakula
Team kit
Fiji Warriors team at the 2016 Americas Pacific Challenge in Uruguay.

History

Fiji's national A team has made several tours to South America, the earliest being in 2003 where they defeated Uruguay by 24–3 in Montevideo.[2] But the history of the second national team can be traced back almost half a century earlier to 1955 when a Fiji XV side undertook a two-week tour of Samoa and was undefeated in all three matches played.[3]

The Fiji Warriors first played in the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2006, but the team was one of two Fijian sides in the competition for the first five years – the other being the Fiji Barbarians – and so it was not considered to be Fiji A for that period.

In 2010, Fiji A played two matches against  Tonga A in the first Punjas Series. The team had one win and one loss but claimed the series on aggregate scores.[4] This result was repeated in the second (and concluding) Punjas Series in 2011.[5]

The Pacific Rugby Cup was reorganised in 2011, with Fiji Warriors becoming the sole Fijian representative in the PRC, which has since been mainly contested by national 'A' teams. From 2011 onward the Fiji Warriors team has effectively been Fiji A.

In 2012, the Fiji A team toured to Ireland where they suffered one of their heaviest defeats, beaten 53–0 at Limerick by the  Ireland Wolfhounds.[6]

At the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Challenge, the Fiji Warriors were the runner-up, with wins over Junior Japan and Samoa A and two defeats against the Argentine Pampas XV. In May 2015, the Fiji Warriors made a South American tour to play Uruguay and an Argentina XV, winning all three matches. In 2016, it played World Rugby Pacific Challenge and also World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge.

Squads

2011
2011 Fiji Warriors squad – PRC

Notes

* denotes players who were in the Fiji 2011 RWC squad.
** denotes players who have played for Fiji in a Test.
*** denotes players who have played 7s for Fiji in the IRB Series.

2015

Fiji Warriors 28-man squad for the uncapped June matches against Uruguay and Pampas XV, acting as 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-ups for all three nations. The team will be coached by Senirusi Seruvakula, who will work closely with the national head coach John McKee.[7]

Warriors Head Coach: Fiji Senirusi Seruvakula

  • Caps Updated: 15 May 2015

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Sireli Ledua (c) Hooker (1985-12-12) 12 December 1985 6 Fiji Northland
Jale Sassen Hooker (1992-09-06) 6 September 1992 0 Fiji Tailevu
Seru Cakobau Hooker (1988-05-22) 22 May 1988 0 Fiji Nadroga
Leeroy Atalifo Prop (1988-03-10) 10 March 1988 1 Fiji Suva
Taniela Koroi Prop (1990-02-08) 8 February 1990 1 New Zealand Wellington
Peni Ravai Prop (1990-06-16) 16 June 1990 2 Fiji Nadroga
Kirwan Sanday Prop (1991-02-13) 13 February 1991 0 Australia Easts Tigers
Joeli Veitayaki Jr. Prop 0 Fiji Naitasiri
Apisai Naikatini Lock (1985-04-04) 4 April 1985 18 New Zealand Wellington
Savenaca Tabakanalagi Lock (1986-08-31) 31 August 1986 0 Fiji Suva
Mataiasi Ucutabua Lock 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Meli Baivatu Flanker (1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Jone Dyer Flanker 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Malakai Namalo Flanker 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Timoci Sauvoli Flanker 0 Fiji Nadroga
Jolame Bera Number 8 (1984-02-01) 1 February 1984 0 Fiji Suva
Serupepeli Vularika Scrum-half 0 Fiji Suva
Emori Waqa Scrum-half (1993-04-24) 24 April 1993 0 Fiji Tailevu
Isoa Donaldson Fly-half (1986-09-13) 13 September 1986 0 Fiji Nadroga
Kini Douglas Fly-half (1994-01-05) 5 January 1994 0 Fiji Naitasiri
Saimoni Tuilaucala Centre 0 Fiji Tavua
John Stewart Centre 0 Fiji Suva
Eroni Vasiteri Centre (1989-05-27) 27 May 1989 0 Fiji Nadroga
Nacani Wakaya Wing 0 Fiji Suva
Josaia Qumi Wing 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Sam Speight Wing (1985-10-03) 3 October 1985 0 Fiji Lautoka
Kitione Ratu Fullback 0 Fiji Vatukoula
Tikilaci Vuibau Fullback (1992-08-14) 14 August 1992 0 Fiji Northland

Record

Honours

Pacific Challenge (formerly the Pacific Rugby Cup)

Americas Pacific Challenge

Season standings

Pacific Challenge

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final  Notes  
2020 2nd 32018826+622010 —  Runner-up on league table (no final)
2019 1st 330017054+1163015 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2018 1st 330011831+873015 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2017 1st 330012571+542015 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2016 1st 330013434+1003015 36–0  Won final against  Samoa A
2015 2nd 320114542+1032111 9–17  Lost final to Argentina's Pampas XV
2014 3rd 320115459952111 —  Won 3rd play-off 54–21 against  Tonga A
2013 1st 6222118155-372014 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2012 1st 8701205165403031 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2011 1st 8404144201-570117 —  Title winner on league table (no final)
2010 1st 540115573+822119 26–17  Won final against Fiji Barbarians
2009 2nd 530216889+793217 19–7  Won final against Upolu Samoa
2008 6th 510470104−34037 —  Did not compete in finals
2007 4th 52039390+30111 —  Did not compete in finals
2006 2nd 531111272+401117 5–10  Lost final to Savaii Samoa

Americas Pacific Challenge

Year Pos Pld W D L F A +/- TB LB Pts Final  Notes  
2016 2nd 320112765+624012 —  Runner-up on league table (no final)

International results

Matches against national teams or national 'A" teams since 2010 up to and including the 2015 tour to Uruguay:

16-04-2010(PS) Fiji A12–27 Tonga ANational Stadium, Suva
23-04-2010(PS) Fiji A21–3 Tonga AChurchill Park, Lautoka
19-03-2011(PRC) Fiji Warriors21–14 Tonga AChurchill Park, Lautoka
22-03-2011(PRC) Samoa A12–23Fiji Warriors Churchill Park, Lautoka
13-08-2011(PS) Fiji A27–12 Tonga AChurchill Park, Lautoka
19-08-2011(PS) Fiji A30–32 Tonga AChurchill Park, Lautoka
15-10-2012(PRC)Fiji Warriors42–34 Samoa ATeufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa
19-10-2012(PRC) Tonga A16–25Fiji WarriorsTeufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa
17-11-2012 Ireland Wolfhounds53–0Fiji WarriorsThomond Park, Limerick
18-03-2014(PRC) Junior Japan13–99Fiji WarriorsBond University, Gold Coast
23-03-2014(PRC)Fiji Warriors54–21 Tonga ATG Milner Oval, Sydney
10-03-2015(PRC)Fiji Warriors20–22Pampas XVNational Stadium, Suva
14-03-2015(PRC)Fiji Warriors83–0 Junior JapanNational Stadium, Suva
18-03-2015(PRC)Fiji Warriors42–20 Samoa ANational Stadium, Suva
23-03-2015(PRC)Fiji Warriors9–17Pampas XVNational Stadium, Suva
23-05-2015Uruguay22–30Fiji WarriorsEstadio Charrúa, Montevideo
27-05-2015 Argentina XV21–23Fiji WarriorsEstadio Suppici, Colonia del Sacramento

See also

References
  1. "PRC 2012 set for kick-off". Fiji Rugby. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. Fiji XV Tour - Montevideo. ESPN. 13 August 2003.
  3. Fiji XV tour 1955. ESPN.
  4. Match 2 Report Fiji Live.
  5. Fiji lose but claim Punjas Series Archived 2 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. Fiji XV Tour - Limerick, 17 November 2012. ESPN.
  7. Seruvakula Names Team to Uruguay
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