Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Fiji set to play France and England in pre-World Cup warm ups

Fijian players sing national anthem during the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup match between Tonga and Fiji at the HFC Bank stadium on July 2, 2022. (Photo by Leon LORD / AFP) (Photo by LEON LORD/AFP via Getty Images)

Undercooked Fiji have put together an extensive fixture list in a bid to ensure they are match ready for Rugby World Cup 2023.

ADVERTISEMENT

Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Flying Fijians have only played in 11 Tests since the end of the last tournament in Japan.

But recently-appointed head coach Simon Raiwalui has revealed a far-reaching, five-match itinerary that involves games against three of the top 10 teams in the world rankings.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

“We’ve got Tonga in Fiji on the 22nd (July) in Lautoka, Samoa in Apia on the 29th – I think it’ll be the first test match in Samoa for a number of years so that’ll be a good occasion – and Japan in Japan on the 5th (of August),” he said.

“And then we come up to Europe and play France on the 19th and England on the 26th.

“It is very good preparation for us, ramped up nicely with quality opposition so we should go in to the World Cup battle hardened and well tested and it gives us a chance to get all our combinations right,” he said.

Raiwalui took on the job of leading Fiji to the Rugby World Cup when Vern Cotter resigned at the end of January so only has a limited time window to make his mark before the Rugby World Cup starts in September.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following just three Test wins under Cotter, Fiji have fallen to 13th in the world rankings, whilst last year’s World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup title was lost to Samoa.

But Raiwalui believes they can prove that to be a false position in the months ahead and go to France in a good place.

“If we get out performances right, the rankings will look after themselves.”

Raiwalui, 48, is due in Europe later this week to attend a World Rugby workshop and will then formally introduce himself to his European-based players in his new capacity as head coach.

The former Fiji captain and lock, who won 43 caps over a 10-year Test career, had been General Manager of High Performance for the Fiji Rugby Union for the past two years prior to his appointment as head coach.

ADVERTISEMENT

Before that, Raiwalui was forwards coach under Michael Cheika at the Wallabies.

Raiwalui has confirmed that Glen Jackson (attack) and Daryl Gibson (defence) will continue to support him as part of the coaching team, while Graham Dewes, the match-winner against Wales at RWC 2007, will stay on as scrum coach.

In addition, Fijian Drua’s Brad Harris comes on board to look after the lineout and mauls, whilst Senirusi Seruvakula, who was the Fijiana coach last year, and former international Seremaia Bai will also assist Raiwalui, with the latter taking on the role of kicking coach.

Fiji are in Pool C at RWC 2023 along with Australia and Wales, who have also had a change of coach in the last few months, as well as Rugby Europe Championship grand finalists, Georgia and Portugal.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Trace George 2 hours ago
'It depends who you ask' - Northampton seek game-limit clarification

This April, I lost my entire savings to a Solana crypto scam, and I vowed never to trust anyone again. I had invested my hard-earned money in what I thought was a promising opportunity, but it turned out to be a fraudulent scheme. Initially, my investment in the stock market seemed to thrive, with profits blooming in the first few months. I felt optimistic and excited about my financial future. However, everything came crashing down, and I lost it all instantly. The sleepless nights and constant worry took a significant toll on my mental health, leaving me feeling anxious, defeated, and overwhelmed. Determined to recover my lost funds, I began a relentless search for the criminals behind the scam. I spent countless hours researching and reaching out to various organizations, but I felt lost in a sea of misinformation and uncertainty. That’s when I discovered TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY, a recovery agent specializing in retrieving lost funds from fraudulent schemes. Their reputation for helping victims like me gave me a glimmer of hope. With their expertise, I was able to recover my entire investment, which felt like a miracle after the despair I had experienced. TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY not only helped me reclaim my lost funds but also assisted in tracing the scammers' location. They took swift action, bringing the full force of the law upon those responsible for the fraud. Their commitment to recovery was evident throughout the process, and I felt supported every step of the way. They provided regular updates and guidance, which helped ease my anxiety and restore my sense of control. If you find yourself in a similar situation, I cannot recommend TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY enough. They have the skills and resources to help you navigate the complexities of fund recovery. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them; they can make a significant difference in your journey to reclaim what you’ve lost. Trust may be hard to come by after such an ordeal, but with the right support, recovery is possible. With TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY by your side, you can regain your cryptocurrency and restore your faith in the process, allowing you to move forward with renewed hope.HIRE TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY FOR HELP +15617263697  EMAIL.. Tech cybers force recovery AT cyber services DOT com

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Lions truce predicted for Finn Russell and Johnny Sexton: 'There will be no issue' Lions peace pact predicted for Finn Russell and Johnny Sexton
Search