Fiji at the Rugby World Cup

Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

The Fiji national rugby union team has played in all Rugby World Cup tournaments, except in 1995, when they did not qualify. Their best performances have seen them become quarterfinalists in 1987, the 2007 and 2023.

Nation Number of appearances First appearance Most recent appearance Streak Best result
 Fiji 9 1987 2023 7 Quarter finals 1987, 2007, 2023

By position

[edit]
Rugby World Cup record Qualification
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad Head coach Pos Pld W D L PF PA
New Zealand Australia 1987 Quarter-finals 4 1 0 3 72 132 Squad J. Sovau Invited
England France Ireland Scotland Wales 1991 Pool Stage 3 0 0 3 27 63 Squad S. Viriviri Automatically qualified
South Africa 1995 Did not qualify 2nd 2 1 0 1 26 34
Wales 1999 Quarter-final play-offs 4 2 0 2 148 113 Squad B. Johnstone 2nd 5 4 0 1 151 116
Australia 2003 Pool Stage 4 2 0 2 98 114 Squad M. McCallion 1st 4 3 0 1 123 80
France 2007 Quarter-finals 5 3 0 2 134 173 Squad I. Tabua 2nd 4 3 0 1 74 83
New Zealand 2011 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 59 167 Squad S. Domoni Automatically qualified
England 2015 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 84 101 Squad J. McKee 1st 1 1 0 0 108 6
Japan 2019 Pool Stage 4 1 0 3 110 108 Squad 1st 4 4 0 0 101 60
France 2023 Quarter-finals 5 2 0 3 112 113 Squad S. Raiwalui Automatically qualified
Total — 37 13 0 24 844 1084 — — — 20 16 0 4 583 379
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue

By match

[edit]

1987 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 1987 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T Pts Qualification
 New Zealand 3 3 0 0 190 34 +156 30 6 Knockout stage
 Fiji 3 1 0 2 56 101 −45 6 2[a]
 Italy 3 1 0 2 40 110 −70 5 2[a]
 Argentina 3 1 0 2 49 90 −41 4 2[a]
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Fiji qualified for the highest number of tries (Fiji 6, Italy 5, Argentina 4)
24 May 1987
Argentina 9–28 Fiji
Try: Penalty try
Con: Porta
Pen: Porta		Try: Gale
Naivilawasa
Nalaga
Savai
Con: Koroduadua (2)
Rokowailoa
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Rugby Park, Hamilton
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)
27 May 1987
New Zealand 74–13 Fiji
Try: Gallagher (4)
Green (4)
Kirk
Kirwan
Penalty try
Whetton
Con: Fox (10)
Pen: Fox (2)		Try: Cama
Pen: Koroduadua (3)
Lancaster Park, Christchurch
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)
31 May 1987
Fiji 15–18 Italy
Try: Naivilawasa
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua (2)
Drop: Qoro		Try: Cuttitta
Cucchiella
Mascioletti
Pen: Collodo
Drop: Collodo
Carisbrook, Dunedin
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Keith Lawrence (New Zealand)

Quarter final

7 June 1987
Fiji 16–31 France
Tries: Qoro
Damu
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua (2)		Tries: Rodriguez (2)
Lorieux
Lagisquet
Con: Laporte (3)
Pen: Laporte (2)
Drop: Laporte
Eden Park, Auckland
Referee: Clive Norling Wales

1991 Rugby World Cup

[edit]

Pool 4 games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 France 3 3 0 0 82 25 +57 6
 Canada 3 2 0 1 45 33 +12 4
 Romania 3 1 0 2 31 64 −33 2
 Fiji 3 0 0 3 27 63 −36 0
Source: [citation needed]
5 October 1991
Canada 13–3 Fiji
Tries: Stewart
Pen: Rees (3)		Drop: Serevi
Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne
Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald Australia
8 October 1991
France 33–9 Fiji
Tries: Lafond (3), Sella (2), Camberabero
Con: Camberabero (3)
Pen: Camberabero		Tries: Naruma
Con: Koroduadua
Pen: Koroduadua
Stade Lesdiguières, Grenoble
Referee: Derek Bevan Wales
12 October 1991
Fiji 15–17 Romania
Pen: Turuva (2)
Drop: Rabaka (2), Turuva		Tries: Ion, Dumitras, Sasu
Con: Răcean
Pen: Nichitean
Parc Municipal des Sports, Brive
Referee: Owen Doyle Republic of Ireland

1999 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 France 3 3 0 0 108 52 +56 9
 Fiji 3 2 0 1 124 68 +56 7
 Canada 3 1 0 2 114 82 +32 5
 Namibia 3 0 0 3 42 186 −144 3
Source: [citation needed]
1 October 1999
21:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji 67–18 Namibia
Try: Lasagavibau (2)
S. Tawake
Rauluni
Satala
Mocelutu
Smith
Tiko
Katalau
Con: Serevi (8)
Pen: Serevi (2)		Try: Jacobs
Senekal
Con: Van Dyk
Pen: Van Dyk (2)
Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
9 October 1999
13:30 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
Fiji 38–22 Canada
Try: Satala (2)
Vunibaka
Lasagavibau
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Little (3)
Drop: Little		Try: James
Con: Rees
Pen: Rees (4)
Drop: Rees
Parc Lescure, Bordeaux
Attendance: 27,000
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)
16 October 1999
14:00 CEST/GMT+2 (UTC+02)
France 28–19 Fiji
Try: Juillet
Dominici
Penalty try
Con: Dourthe (2)
Pen: Dourthe (2)
Lamaison		Try: Uluinayau
Con: Little
Pen: Little (4)
Stade de Toulouse
Attendance: 36,000
Referee: Paddy O'Brien (New Zealand)

Quarter-final play-offs –

20 October 1999
13:00 WEST/GMT+1 (UTC+01)
England 45–24 Fiji
Try: Luger
Back
Beal
Greening
Con: Dawson
Wilkinson
Pen: Wilkinson (7)		ReportTry: Satala
Nakauta
Tiko
Con: Little (3)
Pen: Serevi
Twickenham, London
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales)

2003 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup

Group B games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
 France 4 4 0 0 204 70 +134 4 20 Quarter-finals
 Scotland 4 3 0 1 102 97 +5 2 14
 Fiji 4 2 0 2 98 114 −16 2 10
 United States 4 1 0 3 86 125 −39 2 6
 Japan 4 0 0 4 79 163 −84 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
11 October 2003
France 61–18 Fiji
Tries: Dominici (2), Harinordoquy, Jauzion (3), Ibañez
Con: Michalak (4)
Pen: Michalak (6)		Tries: Naevo, Caucaunibuca
Con: Little
Pen: Little (2)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 46,795
Referee: Alain Rolland Republic of Ireland
15 October 2003
Fiji 19–18 United States
Tries: Naevo
Con: Little
Pen: Little (4)		Tries: van Zyl, Schubert
Con: Hercus
Pen: Hercus (2)
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 30,990
Referee: Joël Jutge France
23 October 2003
Fiji 41–13 Japan
Tries: Tuilevu (2), Ligairi (2), Vunibaka
Con: Little (2)
Pen: Little (4)		Tries: Miller
Con: Miller
Pen: Miller
Drop: Miller
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 17,269
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse Wales
1 November 2003
Scotland 22–20 Fiji
Tries: Smith
Con: Paterson
Pen: Paterson (5)		Tries: Caucaunibuca (2)
Con: Little (2)
Pen: Little (2)
Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 37,137
Referee: Tony Spreadbury England

2007 Rugby World Cup

[edit]

Fiji were placed in Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup along with Wales, Canada, Japan and Australia. After beating Japan and Canada in close matches, Fiji rested several key players against Australia for the crucial game against Wales. Australia defeated Fiji 55–12. Fiji's fate in the tournament came down to a "winner advances" game against Wales which Fiji won 38–34 and qualified for the quarter-finals for the second time. Former Wallaby great Michael Lynagh described the see-sawing match as one of the best matches "of all time". Fiji lost their quarter final match against South Africa, however their above expectations performance in the tournament resulted in them moving up to 9th in the world rankings – their highest ever position.

Group stage
Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup Pool B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1  Australia 4 4 0 0 215 41 +174 4 20 Qualified for the quarter-finals
2  Fiji 4 3 0 1 114 136 −22 3 15
3  Wales 4 2 0 2 168 105 +63 4 12 Eliminated, automatic qualification for RWC 2011
4  Japan 4 0 1 3 64 210 −146 1 3
5  Canada 4 0 1 3 51 120 −69 0 2
Source: [citation needed]
12 September 2007
18:00
Japan 31–35 Fiji
Tries: Thompson (2) 51' c, 78' c
Soma 62' m
Con: Onishi (2/3)
Pen: Onishi (4/4) 18', 30', 40+', 43'		ReportTries: Qera (2) 36' c, 49' c
Rabeni 56' m
Leawere 71' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (3/3) 4', 55', 74'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 34,500
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
16 September 2007
14:00
Fiji 29–16 Canada
Tries: Leawere 22' c
Ratuvou (2) 28' m, 80+' c
Delasau 42' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (1/3) 8'		ReportTries: Smith 60' c
Con: Pritchard (1/1)
Pen: Pritchard (3/4) 4', 27', 74'
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 45,000
Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)
23 September 2007
14:30
Australia 55–12 Fiji
Tries: Giteau (2) 17' c, 36' m
Mitchell (3) 31' c, 70' c, 79' m
Ashley-Cooper 57' c
Hoiles 74' m
Con: Giteau (4/6)
Pen: Giteau (3/3) 28', 42', 50'
Drop: Barnes (1/1) 44'		ReportTries: Neivua 40+' m
Ratuva 47' c
Con: Bai (1/1)
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Attendance: 32,231
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
29 September 2007
17:00
Wales 34–38 Fiji
Try: Popham 34' c
S. Williams 45' c
G. Thomas 48' m
M. Jones 51' c
M. Williams 73' m
Con: Hook (1/1)
S. Jones (2/4)
Pen: S. Jones (1/2) 5'		ReportTries: Qera 16' c
Delasau 19' m
Leawere 25' c
Dewes 77' c
Con: Little (3/4)
Pen: Little (4/5) 21', 24', 54', 60'
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Attendance: 37,080
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Quarter finals
Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup knockout stage
7 October 2007
15:00
South Africa 37–20 Fiji
Tries: Fourie 13' m
Smit 35' m
Pietersen 51' c
Smith 70' c
James 80' c
Con: Montgomery (3/5)
Pen: Steyn (1/1) 8'
Montgomery (1/2) 63'		ReportTries: Delasau 57' c
Bobo 59' c
Con: Bai (2/2)
Pen: Bai (2/2) 26', 44'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 55,943
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

2011 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 4 0 0 166 24 +142 21 2 18 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2  Wales 4 3 0 1 180 34 +146 23 3 15
3  Samoa 4 2 0 2 91 49 +42 9 2 10 Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4  Fiji 4 1 0 3 59 167 −108 7 1 5
5  Namibia 4 0 0 4 44 266 −222 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
10 September 2011 Fiji  49–25  Namibia International Stadium, Rotorua
17 September 2011 South Africa  49–3  Fiji Regional Stadium, Wellington
25 September 2011 Fiji  7–27  Samoa Eden Park, Auckland
2 October 2011 Wales  66–0  Fiji Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

2015 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  Australia 4 4 0 0 141 35 +106 17 1 17 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2  Wales 4 3 0 1 111 62 +49 11 1 13
3  England 4 2 0 2 133 75 +58 16 3 11 Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4  Fiji 4 1 0 3 84 101 −17 10 1 5
5  Uruguay 4 0 0 4 30 226 −196 2 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
18 September 2015 England  35–11  Fiji Twickenham Stadium, London
23 September 2015 Australia  28–13  Fiji Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
1 October 2015 Wales  23–13  Fiji Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
6 October 2015 Fiji  47–15  Uruguay Stadium mk, Milton Keynes

2019 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  Wales 4 4 0 0 136 69 +67 17 3 19 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2  Australia 4 3 0 1 136 68 +68 20 4 16
3  Fiji 4 1 0 3 110 108 +2 17 3 7 Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4  Georgia 4 1 0 3 65 122 −57 9 1 5
5  Uruguay 4 1 0 3 60 140 −80 6 0 4
Source: [citation needed]
21 September 2019
13:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Australia 39–21 Fiji
Try: Hooper 18' c
Hodge 36' m
Latu (2) 57' m, 62' m
Kerevi 69' c
Koroibete 73' c
Con: Lealiifano (1/2) 19'
To'omua (2/3) 70', 74'
Pen: Hodge (1/1) 51'		ReportTry: Yato 9' m
Nayacalevu 44' c
Con: Volavola (1/2) 46'
Pen: Volavola (3/3) 5', 23', 31'
Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Attendance: 36,482
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
25 September 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
(2 BP) Fiji 27–30 Uruguay
Try: Dolokoto 8' m
Mawi 19' c
Ratuniyarawa 48' m
Matawalu (2) 67' m, 80+1' m
Con: J. Matavesi (1/3) 20'		ReportTry: Arata 14' c
Diana 22' c
Cat 26' c
Con: Berchesi (3/3) 15', 23', 28'
Pen: Berchesi (3/4) 38', 61', 76'
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Kamaishi
Attendance: 14,025
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
3 October 2019
14:15 JST (UTC+09)
Georgia 10–45 Fiji (1 BP)
Try: Gorgodze 53' c
Con: Matiashvili (1/1) 55'
Pen: Matiashvili (1/2) 35'		ReportTry: Nayacalevu 20' c
Lomani 45' m
Tuisova 50' m
Radradra (2) 61' c, 76' c
Kunatani 68' c
Ratuniyarawa 70' c
Con: Volavola (5/7) 21', 63', 70', 72', 77'
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka
Attendance: 21,069
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
9 October 2019
18:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Wales 29–17 Fiji
Try: Adams (3) 18' c, 31' c, 61' m
L. Williams 69' c
Con: Biggar (2/2) 20', 32'
Patchell (1/2) 70'
Pen: Patchell (1/1) 58'		ReportTry: Tuisova 4' m
Murimurivalu 9' m
Penalty try 54'
Oita Stadium, Ōita
Attendance: 33,379
Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

2023 Rugby World Cup

[edit]
Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts Qualification
1  Wales 4 4 0 0 143 59 +84 17 8 3 19 Advance to knockout stage, and
qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
2  Fiji 4 2 0 2 88 83 +5 9 9 3 11[a]
3  Australia 4 2 0 2 90 91 −1 11 8 3 11[a] Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
4  Portugal 4 1 1 2 64 103 −39 8 13 0 6
5  Georgia 4 0 1 3 64 113 −49 7 14 1 3
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Head-to-head: Australia 15–22 Fiji
10 September 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Wales 32–26 Fiji (2 BP)
Try: Adams 7' m
North 29' c
Rees-Zammit 48' c
Dee 66' c
Con: Biggar (3/4) 30', 49', 67'
Pen: Biggar (2/3) 3', 24'		ReportTry: Nayacalevu 14' c
Tagitagivalu 17' c
Tuisova 73' c
Doge 78' m
Con: Lomani (2/2) 15', 18'
Tela (1/2) 73'
Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Attendance: 41,274
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
17 September 2023
17:45 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Australia 15–22 Fiji
Try: Nawaqanitawase 23' m
Vunivalu 68' c
Con: Donaldson (1/2) 70'
Pen: Donaldson (1/1) 3'		ReportTry: Tuisova 43' c
Con: Kuruvoli (1/1) 44'
Pen: Kuruvoli (4/4) 12', 21', 27', 33'
Lomani (1/3) 66'
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Attendance: 41,294
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
30 September 2023
17:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Fiji 17–12 Georgia (1 BP)
Try: Nayacalevu 51' c
Habosi 68' c
Con: Lomani (2/2) 52', 69'
Pen: Lomani (1/2) 65'		ReportPen: Matkava (2/2) 5', 80'
Niniashvili (2/2) 19', 31'
Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Attendance: 39,862
Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
8 October 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Fiji 23–24 Portugal
Try: Botia 48' c
Doge 68' c
Con: Lomani (2/2) 49', 69'
Pen: Lomani (3/3) 10', 74', 76'		ReportTry: Storti 45' c
Fernandes 51' c
Marta 78' c
Con: Marques (3/3) 47', 53', 79'
Pen: Marques (1/1) 38'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 32,223
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Quarter-finals
Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup knockout stage
15 October 2023
17:00 CEST (UTC+2)
England 30–24 Fiji
Try: Tuilagi 14' m
Marchant 23' c
Con: Farrell (1/2) 23'
Pen: Farrell (5/6) 11', 34', 38', 54', 78'
Drop: Farrell (1/1) 72'		ReportTry: Mata 28' c
Ravai 64' c
Botitu 68' c
Con: Lomani (1/1) 29'
Kuruvoli (2/2) 65', 70'
Pen: Lomani (1/3) 20'
Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Attendance: 61,863
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)

Hosting

[edit]

Fiji has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments, due to the lack of facilities and the small size of the island nation.

References

[edit]
  • Davies, Gerald (2004) The History of the Rugby World Cup (Sanctuary Publishing Ltd, (ISBN 1860746020)
  • Farr-Jones, Nick, (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup, Australian Post Corporation, (ISBN 0-642-36811-2)
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