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'They must not let this opportunity slip by': Fiji's official World Cup squad has been announced
Fiji head coach John McKee has named a 32-man squad for next month’s World Cup in Japan, with one player to be omitted in the lead-up to the tournament.
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The team, which consists of 18 forwards and 14 backs, will be captained by experienced loose forward Dominiko Waqaniburotu.
There are few surprises throughout the side, as 17 players return from the 2015 campaign, with five of those players – Vereniki Goneva, Kini Murimurivalu, Campese Ma’afu, Leone Nakarawa and Waqaniburotu – will be appearing in their third World Cup.
Five players from the country’s National Rugby Championship side, the Fijian Drua, have been named, with new Melbourne Rebels signing Frank Lomani headlining the quintet of local talent.
Loosehead prop Eroni Mawi, hookers Ratu Vere Vugakoto and Mesulame Dolokoto, and loose forward Mosese Voka are the other members of the Drua who will travel to Japan.
The remainder of the talent-laden squad are based in Europe with English and French clubs, with notable names such as Semi Radradra, Ben Volavola and Waisea Nayacalevu all featured.
Four members of Fiji’s gold medal-winning sevens side from the 2016 Rio Olympics – Josua Tuisova, Viliame Mata, Semi Kunatani and Nakarawa – have also been included.
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McKee has retained two pairs of brothers in his truncated squad, with Sam and Josh Matavesi joined by Filipe Nakosi and Tuisova.
The significant reduction in squad size sees 18 players released from the 50-man preliminary squad named for the Pacific Nations Cup, with fan favourite Patrick Osborne among those to have missed the cut.
McKee said his side has been presented with a big opportunity to impress on the world stage, and challenged his players to make a name for themselves in a tough pool, which sees the Flying Fijians line up alongside Australia, Wales, Georgia and Uruguay.
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“I wish the players selected well and remind them of the responsibility they must take on in representing Fiji in a Rugby World Cup,” he said.
“With 35 days until our opening match against the Wallabies, now is the time to step our preparation up in the final phase to ensure we put ourselves in the best position to achieve our performance goals at the World Cup.”
With a balanced mix of experience and youthfulness, McKee was confident of his side springing an upset in making the quarter-finals for just the third time in the nation’s history.
“I am very pleased to announce a group of players to represent Fiji at the World Cup, which I believe has the potential to challenge for a place in the play-offs from Pool D,” he said.
“With selections made, players can focus completely on their preparation for the World Cup and being the best player they can be for the team and for Fiji.
“This is an exciting time for these men who have been selected for the Flying Fijians heading to the World Cup in Japan. They must not let this opportunity to do something special for Fiji slip by.”
Fiji have a 10-day camp from today before they fly to New Zealand in preparation for their clash against Tonga in Auckland as part of the Pasifika Challenge II at Eden Park on August 31.
The squad will then reassemble in Nadi on September 2 before they depart for Japan four days later.
The Flying Fijians’ World Cup campaign kicks off against Australia in Sapporo on September 21.
Fiji’s World Cup 32-man squad (one to be omitted):
FORWARDS
Loosehead Props
Campese Ma’afu
Eroni Mawi
Peni Ravai
Hooker
Mesulame Dolokoto
Samuel Matavesi
Ratu Vere Vugakoto
Tighthead Props
Lee-Roy Atalifo
Manasa Saulo
Kalivati Tawake
Locks
Tevita Cavubati
Leone Nakarawa
Api Ratuniyarawa
Tevita Ratuva
Loose Forwards
Semi Kunatani
Viliame Mata
Mosese Voka
Dominiko Waqaniburotu
Peceli Yato
BACKS
Halfbacks
Frank Lomani
Nikola Matawalu
Henry Seniloli
Inside Backs
Levani Botia
Jale Vatubua
Ben Volavola
Outside Backs
Vereniki Goneva
Filipo Nakosi
Waisea Nayacalevu
Semi Radradra
Josua Tuisova
Utility Backs
Joshua Matavesi
Alivereti Veitokani
Fullback
Kini Murimurivalu
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments