Fiji national rugby sevens team

The Fiji national rugby sevens team has competed in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Olympics. Fiji won the gold medal in the inaugural rugby sevens at the Summer Olympics in 2016 in Brazil, the country's first Olympic medal in any event, and repeated as Olympic champions in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, defeating New Zealand. Fiji would fall short from winning gold for a third straight time in 2024 after a defeat in the final to hosts France. Overall, Fiji are the only national rugby sevens team in the world to have won the Sevens Treble (the Olympics, Sevens Series, and World Cup), the three major achievements in Sevens. They have won multiple World Rugby Sevens Series and Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Fiji Sevens is watched and enjoyed by fans around the world for its style of play — the "Flying Fijians" play with Fijian flair."Rugby Sevens final: Team GB thrashed 43-7 as Fiji win their first-ever Olympic medal", Telegraph, Daniel Schofield, 12 August 2016. Their passing and offloads can be unorthodox for traditional rugby coaching, and more similar to basketball style."Q&A: Ben Ryan on life after becoming an Olympic legend – and Fijian chief – as coach of the island’s gold-medal rugby team", South China Morning Post, James Porteous, 15 October 2016.

History

The International Rugby Board (IRB) expanded the sevens rugby competition to become a series of 11 tournaments around the world. The debt the FRU incurred from the 2000 sevens series was significant. At the end of December 2000, the FRU was burdened with accumulated losses of F$933,306. Fiji appealed to the IRB for funding, arguing that the sevens tournament was built around Fiji and they would not be able to participate without such funding. From that appeal flowed participation funds that enabled the islands teams to play in the World Sevens Series fully funded. By the end of November 2001, the FRU was sitting on a surplus of F$560,311 compared with the previous year's net loss of F$675,609.

The FRU again ran out of money in 2013 to support the national sevens team. The IRB had temporarily suspended funding due to concerns with FRU financial management and governance. The head coach went unpaid for months, another staff was terminated, and the team lacked funds for basic supplies such as rugby balls and bottled water."No Money, No Problem for Fiji Rugby Sevens Team", New York Times, Emma Stoney, March 28, 2014.

Waisale Serevi is highly regarded as the best player ever in sevens rugby. Nicknamed the "maestro", played in this side from 1989 to 2006 leading them to countless tournament victories, two Sevens World Cups in 1997 and 2005.

World Rugby Sevens Series

+ Summary Rank Times Seasons 1st 4 2005–06, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–2019 2nd 6 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2017–18, 2024–25 3rd 9 2000–01, 2002–03, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 4th 5 2001–02, 2003–04, 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11 6th 1 2023-24 Total 25

Fiji has won the World Rugby Sevens Series four times — first in 2005–06, and most recently in 2018–19. Sevens Series recordYearPositionRoundsPoints Most tries Most points 1999–002nd10180 Vilimoni Delasau (83) 2000–013rd9124 2001–024th11122 2002–033rd794 2003–044th884 2004–052nd788 2005–061st8144 2006–072nd8128 William Ryder (416)2007–084th898 Emosi Vucago (25) Neumi Nanuku (146)2008–092nd8102 Vereniki Goneva (24) 2009–104th8108 William Ryder (166)2010–114th8122 Seremaia Burotu (29) Emosi Vucago (195)2011–122nd9161 Joeli Lutumailagi (28) Metuisela Talebula (271)2012–133rd9121 Samisoni Viriviri (29) Joji Baleviani Raqamate (247)2013–143rd9144 Samisoni Viriviri (52) Samisoni Viriviri (260)2014–151st9164 Savenaca Rawaca (42) Osea Kolinisau (312)2015–16"Fiji secure back-to-back titles after day one in London", Telegraph, Oliver Pickup, 21 May 2016.1st10181 Savenaca Rawaca (35) Vatemo Ravouvou (287) 2016–173rd 10 150 2017–182nd 10 180 Eroni Sau (37) Amenoni Nasilasila (316) 2018–191st 10 186 Aminiasi Tuimaba (46) 2019–203rd 6 83 Aminiasi Tuimaba (20) Napolioni Bolaca (159) 2021 Did Not Participate 2021–223rd 9 122 Viwa Naduvalo (28) Waisea Nacuqu (230) 2022–233rd 11 156 Waisea Nacuqu (317) 2023–24 6th 7 80 2024–252nd 6 96 Joji Nasova (26) Joji Nasova (158)Total 4 Titles 209 3039 Nasoni Roko (125) Waisale Serevi (1,310)

Quadrennial tournaments

Summer Olympics

+ Olympic Games record Year Round Most tries Qualifying 2016"Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016.Gold Medal Match1st6600 Josua Tuisova (5) Finished first at the 2014–15 World Series 2020Gold Medal Match1st6600 Jiuta Wainiqolo (5) Finished first at the 2018–19 World Series 2024Gold Medal Match2nd6510Joji Nasova (4)Finished third at the 2022–23 World SeriesTotal2 Titles3/3181710

Olympic Games History2016Pool stage 40 – 12 Win 21 – 14 Win 24 – 19 WinQuarterfinals 12 – 7 WinSemifinals 20 – 5 WinGold Medal Match 43 – 7 Win2020Pool stage 24 – 19 Win 28 – 14 Win 33 – 7 WinQuarterfinals 19 – 0 WinSemifinals 26 – 14 WinGold Medal Match 27 – 12 Win2024Pool stage 40 – 12 Win 38 – 12 Win 19 – 12 WinQuarterfinals 19 – 15 WinSemifinals 31 – 7 WinGold Medal Match 7 – 28 Loss

Rugby World Cup Sevens World Cup Sevens recordYearRoundPosition Played Won Lost Drew Most tries Most points 1993 Semi-finals 3rd 9 7 2 0 1997 Finals 1st 7 7 0 0 M. Vunibaka (12) W. Serevi (117) 2001 Semi-finals 3rd 7 6 1 0 2005 Finals 1st 8 8 0 0 2009 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 1 0 2013 Semi-finals 3rd 6 4 2 0 2018 Semi-finals 4th 4 2 2 0 2022 Finals 1st 4 4 0 0 Total 3 Titles 8/8 49 41 8 0 M. Vunibaka (23) W. Serevi (297)

Commonwealth Games

Commonwealth Games record"A potted history of sevens at the Commonwealth Games", WorldRugby.org, 6 April 2018.YearRoundPosition 1998Gold Medal Match2nd7610 2002Gold Medal Match2nd6420 2006Bronze Medal Match3rd6510 2010Suspended"Fiji suspended from 2010 Commonwealth Games", Herald Sun, Julie Tullberg, October 12, 2009. 2014Ineligible"Fiji drops Games boycott threat", news.com.au, March 27, 2014. 2018 Gold Medal Match2nd 5 4 1 0 2022 Gold Medal Match2nd 6 5 0 0Total0 Titles5/5302450

Commonwealth Games history19981st Phase 54 – 7 Win1st Phase 71 – 0 Win2nd Phase 63 – 5 Win2nd Phase 71 – 0 WinQuarter-finals 26 – 19 WinSemi-finals 28 – 14 WinGold Medal Match 12 – 21 Loss2002Pool stage 75 – 0 WinPool stage 73 – 0 WinPool stage 12 – 19 LossQuarter-finals 7 – 5 WinSemi-finals 17 – 7 WinGold Medal Match 15 – 33 Loss2006Pool stage 31 – 14 WinPool stage 63 – 0 WinPool stage 33 – 7 WinQuarter-finals 26 – 7 WinSemi-finals 14 – 21 LossBronze Medal Match 24 – 17 Win2010Suspended2014Boycott2018Pool stage 63 – 5 WinPool stage 54 – 0 WinPool stage 21 – 17 WinSemi-Finals 24 – 19 WinGold Medal Match 0 – 14 Loss2022Pool Stage 52 – 0 WinPool Stage 19 – 12 WinPool Stage 38 – 24 WinQuarter-finals 34 – 7 WinSemi-Finals 19 (a.e.t.) – 14 WinGold Medal Match 7 – 31 Loss

Tournament Victories

World Sevens Series Winners (2005–06, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2018–19) Summer Olympics Gold (2016, 2020)"Fiji storms to sevens gold, claiming first-ever Olympic medal", Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 12 August 2016. Rugby World Cup Sevens Champions (1997, 2005,2022)"How Fiji Sevens’ Waisale Serevi and his band of ‘schoolchildren’ took the Hong Kong 1997 World Cup home", South China Morning Post, Sam Agars, 18 July 2018. Commonwealth Games: Silver (1998, 2002, 2018,2022); Bronze (2006) Hong Kong Sevens Winners (1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019) World Games Gold (2001, 2005, 2009) Pacific Games Gold (1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2019) Darwin Hottest Sevens Winner (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008) Oceania Sevens Winners (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021)"Fiji storm to victory in Oceania Sevens in Noosa with victory over New Zealand in the final" , Ultimate Rugby Sevens, Nick Jordan, 4 October 2014. Gala Sevens Winner (1991) Australia Sevens Winners (2000, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2020) USA Sevens Winners (2007, 2015, 2016) Singapore Sevens Winners (2006, 2018) Scotland Sevens Winners (2009, 2015) Mar de Plata Winners (2000, 2002) New Zealand Sevens Winners (2000, 2006, 2010, 2018, 2019) South Africa Sevens Winners (1999, 2002, 2005, 2018) London Sevens Winners (2006, 2012, 2018, 2019) Dubai Sevens Winners (2013, 2015) Japan Sevens Winners (1995–97, 2000, 2014)

Players Current squad The following players have been selected to represent Fiji during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 Dubai Sevens.

Records and statistics Olympic squads

Player records The following section lists player records from the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active.

+ Most triesWorld Rugby No. Player Tries 1 Jerry Tuwai 140 2 Waisea Nacuqu 131 3 Nasoni Rokobiau 125 4 Osea Kolinisau 122 5 Samisoni Viriviri 120

+ Most points No. Player Points 1 Waisale Serevi 1,310 2 Osea Kolinisau 1,272 3 William Ryder 987 4 Vatemo Ravouvou 981 5 Nasoni Roko 857

Award winners The following Fiji Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:

+ World Rugby Men's 7s Player of the Year (2004–17) Year Nominees Winners 2005 Neumi Nanuku — 2014 Samisoni Viriviri Samisoni Viriviri 2015 Semi Kunatani — 2016 Osea Kolinisau 2017 Jerry Tuwai

+ World Rugby Men's 7s Player of the Year (2018–25) Year Nominees Winners 2018 Jerry Tuwai (2) 2019 Jerry Tuwai (3) Jerry Tuwai 2021 Napolioni Bolaca — Jiuta Wainiqolo 2022 Kaminieli Rasaku

+ World Rugby Coach of the Year Year Nominees Winners 2016 Ben Ryan —

+ World Rugby Men's 7s Dream Team Year Player 2024 6. Ponepati Loganimasi 2025 5. Joji Nasova

Former players

In addition to the players listed above, other notable players include:

Waisale Serevi William Ryder Jerry Tuwai Osea Kolinisau Semi Kunatani Rupeni Caucaunibuca Samisoni Viriviri Semi Radradra Levani Botia Manasa Bari Sireli Bobo Vilimoni Delasau Temesia Kaumaia Ifereimi Naruma Norman Ligairi Timoci Matanavou Lepani Nabuliwaqa Vereniki Goneva Setareki Tawake Aisea Tuilevu Seru Rabeni Kameli Ratuvou Ifereimi Rawaqa Viliame Satala Jope Tuikabe Mosese Volavola Apolosi Satala Semisi Naevo Watekini Vunisa

Head coaches +CoachTenureNoteGareth Baber2016–21Baber has won the most tournaments by a Fiji 7s coach and has coached the side to their 4th World Series Title in 2019. In addition, Baber also coached the Fiji 7s side to victory by bringing the country's second gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Ben Ryan2013–16Ryan coached the Fiji 7s side to 2 back-to-back world series titles and the country's first gold medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.Alifereti Dere2010–13Waisale Serevi2005–07; 2008–09Serevi coached/played in the side from 2005 to 2007 guiding Fiji to their first World Sevens Series title in the 2005–2006 season.Pauliasi Tabulutu2004–06Wayne Pivac2005Etuate WaqaRatu Kitione VesikulaRupeni RavonuPeni VeidreyakiAlifereti CawanibukaTomasi Cama2001Josateki Sovau1987Sanivalati LaulauTimoci Wainiqolo

Fiji national rugby sevens team

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