The 2022 rugby year
Ben Gollings joins national 7s side
After a vigorous recruitment process and due diligence, former England 7s international star Ben Gollings was appointed as the Fiji men’s 7s head coach. Gollings stood out in the interviews and the board and management was confident that he was the best person to take on the 7s challenges ahead.
Wardens win Nawaka 7s
The Wardens 7s team won the 35th Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s after beating Police White 10-5 in an exciting final at Prince Charles Park in Nadi. In the women’s competition final, Army beat Seahawks 21-15.
Fiji Barbarians crowned Marist 7s winner
The Fiji Barbarians were crowned winners of the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s after defeating Police Blue 33-7 at the ANZ Stadium. The Barbarians led 19-7 at the break, with tries by Elia Canakaivata, Pilipo Bukayaro and Iowane Raturaciri. Keponi Paul scored the first for Police Blue. The Barbarians kicked off the second half as Vuiviwa Naduvalo and Iowane Teba scored tries and the Barbarians retained their crown in style.
Fijiana creates history in Super W competition
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua won the Super W competition in just its first season in the competition. The Drua capped off an unbeaten campaign with a 32-26 win over reigning champions the Waratahs. Vitalina Naikore, who won Player of the Final, scored a brilliant hat-trick. Winning the Super W competition created a pathway for women and girls playing rugby as the Fijiana Drua created a legacy of its own.
Quality Tests boost Fijiana
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana went down to Japan 28-14 and Australia in the Tri-Series Competition. The Sakura beat Fiji 28-14, while the Wallaroos celebrated ending their 956-day Test match drought with an impressive 36-19 win over the Fijiana. Before travelling to NZ for the Women’s RWC, the Fijiana beat the NZ Wahine Maori 3210. Speedster Vitalina Naikore scored a hat trick while Joma Rabuli, Aloesi Nakoci and Roela Radiniyavuni scored a try each. However, the Fijiana lost to third ranked Canada 24-7 in Suva.
Fijian Drua makes Super Rugby Pacific debut
The Fijian Drua set sail in the 2022 Super Rugby competition. The Drua lost at home to the Highlanders (27-24) and Chiefs (35-34). However, the boys beat the Rebels (31-26) Moana Pasifika (34-19) to finish on 11th spot with 12 points. Isoa Nasilasila, Vinaya Habosi and Kalaveti Ravouvou made a huge impact.
Crusaders snap Blues streak to win Super Rugby title
The Crusaders defeated the Blues 21-7 at a wet and windy Eden Park, ensuring their 15-match winning streak was snapped. The visitors strangled the ladder-topping Blues with a ruthless display to claim a record-extending 11th crown. The powerhouse dominated at the rain-soaked and sold-out Eden Park. Bryn Hall and Sevu Reece scored tries, while star Richie Mounga contributed 11 points from the boot!
Fijiana 15s side wins Oceania Championship
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana won the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship after beating Samoa 31-24 in its final match. Both teams were locked at 24-all before the Fijiana scored the winning try on the stroke of full time. The Fijiana trailed Samoa 16-10 at half-time. In its opening match, the side created history as it thrashed PNG by a record scoreline 152-0. The side beat Tonga 34-7 in its second match.
Samoa wins Pacific Nations Cup Samoa defied all odds to win the 2022 Pacific nations Cup title at Churchill Park. The side beat the Flying Fijians 23-20 to finish the competition with 15 points, three ahead of second placed Australia A while hosts Fiji finished third with six points. Fiji led 17-3 at halftime. In its final match Australia A beat Tonga 39-22. Fiji demolished the Ikale Tahi 36-0, but then lost to Australia A 32-18. Consistency let us down.
Ireland wins Test series on NZ soil
Ireland burst out of the blocks and held off the fast-finishing All Blacks to win the deciding third Test 32-22, becoming the first touring team in the professional era to win a series on New Zealand soil. As Ireland made history after registering the series win over the All Blacks, All Blacks rugby fans lost their minds after Ireland pulled off the once unthinkable and etched their names into the record books.
The Roses clinch series in Australia
England beat Australia 21-17 to clinch the three Test-match series. The Roses held on through a 12-phase Wallabies attack with four minutes remaining to clinch the decider at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Springboks hold off powerful Dragons
South Africa beat Wales 30-14 in the deciding Test to clinch the series. A rejuvenated South African outfit defeated Wales 30-14 at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town to win the three-match series in style.
All Blacks retain Bledisloe Cup The All Blacks retained the Bledisloe Cup for the 20th yearin-a-row after dramatic 39-37 win. Jordie Barrett’s try after the fulltime siren following a contentious refereeing decision gave the visitors a 39-37 win. Wallabies fly-half Bernard Foley took his time with a kick for the sideline with only seconds on the clock, and referee Mathieu Raynal intervened to give the All Blacks a scrum at close range. The All Blacks duly won the scrum and spread the ball to the right corner for Barrett to score the winner. Game over!
ABs take Rugby Championship crown
The All Blacks defended their crown after thrashing the Wallabies 40-14 in Auckland. It was the closest tournament for several years with the title only being decided by the result of the twelfth and last match of the tournament in Durban between South Africa and Argentina. South Africa had to win with a bonus point and by a margin of 39 points. The 38-21 win without a bonus point was not enough in the end for the hosts. The win was the All Blacks ninth title since the inception of the Rugby Championship in 2012.
Nadi crowned 2022 Skipper Cup champions
Nadi came out victorious as the scintillating Skipper Cup final ended. The hosts were crowned champs after they beat Naitasiri 16-14. After Tunidau Rafaele and Etonia Rokotuiwasa exchanged penalties, Kitione Taliqa beautifully defeated two defenders to dive in for the first try. Rokotuiwasa kicked two more penalties as Naitasiri led 9-8. Rafaele’s penalty and Viliame Kanatabua’s try kept fans at the edge of their seats. Nadi captain Sivaniolo Lumelume scored the winning try. Menawhile, Namosi won the Development Division trophy beating Naitasiri 22-15 and Nadi took the U-19 title beating Suva 19-18.
Stallions win Inkk Farebrother Sullivan Trophy
An emotional Nadroga coach Etonia Naba was speechless after the Stallions beat Nadi 20-19 to claim the Inkk Fiji Rugby Farebrother Trophy at a jam-packed Prince Charles Park. The toast of Nadroga’s win was 20-year-old Jack Volavola who scored a try, kicked over a conversion and the winning penalty for a personal tally of 10 points. The Stallions led 17-12 at half-time. Nadi scored a try to Peceli Ratu, which was converted, and the hosts led 1917. Volavola kicked over the winning penalty in the 76th minute.
Fijiana records first win in debut WC 15s tournament
The Rooster Chicken Fijiana survived a scare from South Africa to win 21-17 in the dying seconds. The Fijiana defeated the 11th ranked side to get its first win at the Women’s RWC 15s tournament. The side struck first through Ilisapeci Delaiwau. Zintle Mpupha sliced through the Fijiana defence to level scores, but Akanisi Sokoiwasa cruised over for a try on the stroke of half-time. South Africa scored a try, and the Janse van Rensburg converted a penalty to give South Africa the lead with 40 seconds left, but the Fijiana had the last say. Karalaini Naisewa brushed aside the opposition defence to score under the stick.
Kangaroos beat Samoa to win RLWC crown
Australia made it three tournament triumphs on the trot to claim the 2021 Rugby League World Cup after recording a 30-10 victory against a defiant Samoan side to defend their title. The Kangaroos beat NZ 16-14 in the semis, while Samoa upset England
27-26. The Bati lost to NZ 2418 in the quarter-final.
Autumn Tests thrilled
The highly anticipated Autumn Test series did not disappoint with some entertaining games. Fiji lost to Scotland and Ireland 28-12 and 35-17, respectively. The All Blacks beat Wales 55-23 and Scotland 31-23, but drew against England 25-all. Australia lost to France 30-29 and Ireland 13-10, but beat Wales 39-34. South Africa also lost to Ireland 19-16 and France 30-26, but the Springboks beat hosts England 27-13.
Black Ferns
RWC 15s trophy
The Black Ferns battled to a gritty and spine-tingling Women’s RWC 15s trophy win, tearing England hearts out. The hosts won 34-31. England came into the match on a winning streak of 30 matches and took an early lead before Lydia Thompson was sent off for a high tackle. England preserved its lead at half-time 26-19, but the 14 players were ultimately unable to contain the Black Ferns, who took the lead with a try by Ayesha Leti-I’iga. A world-record crowd of 42,579 added further resonance to the occasion.
Flier and Demant named best players
Ireland’s Josh van der Flier and NZ’s Ruahei Demant were named World Rugby Men’s and Women’s 15s Players of the Year. The World Rugby Coach of the Year was awarded to Wayne Smith, who coached the Black Ferns to RWC 15s victory, while Ireland’s Terry Kennedy and Australia’s Charlotte Caslick walked away with the World Rugby Men’s and Women’s 7s Players of the Year award in partnership with HSBC.
Police scoops Ratu Sukuna Bowl Total Energies Police edged Subrails Army 19-11 to win the FMF Sukuna Bowl. Police started off the game strongly scoring the first try to Inoke Ravuiwasa. Two back-to-back penalties to Jack Volavola and another threepointer to Etonia Rokotuisawa handed the men in blue the 2022 FMF Sukuna Bowl.
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claim Women’s