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 were in the inaugural 1987 tournament and in the 2007 tournament, when they made it to the quarter finals.

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Fiji	7	1987	2015	5	Quarter finals, 1987, 2007

By position

• 1987 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 1991 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
• 1995 Rugby World Cup Did not qualify.
• 1999 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter final play-offs.
• 2003 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
• 2007 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in quarter finals.
• 2011 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.
• 2015 Rugby World Cup Eliminated in pool stages.

By match

1987 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	Pts
New Zealand	3	3	0	0	190	34	6
Fiji	3	1	0	2	56	101	2
Argentina	3	1	0	2	49	90	2
Italy	3	1	0	2	40	110	2

1987-05-24

Argentina	9–28	Fiji
Try: Penalty try Con: Porta Pen: Porta		Tries: Gale Naivilawasa Nalaga Savai Con: Koroduadua (2) Rokowailoa Pen: Koroduadua (2)

Rugby Park, Hamilton Referee: Jim Fleming

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1987-05-27

New Zealand	74–13	Fiji
Tries: Gallagher (4) Green (4) Kirk Kirwan Penalty try Whetton Con: Fox (10) Pen: Fox (2)		Try: Cama Pen: Koroduadua (3)

Lancaster Park, Christchurch Attendance: 26,000 Referee: Derek Bevan

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1987-05-31

Fiji	15–18	Italy
Try: Naivilawasa Con: Koroduadua Pen: Koroduadua (2) Drop: Quro		Tries: Cuttitta Cucchiella Mascioletti Pen: Collodo Drop: Collodo

Carisbrook, Dunedin Referee: Keith Lawrence

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Quarter finals –

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	6 June – Lancaster Park, Christchurch
	New Zealand	30
					14 June – Ballymore, Brisbane
	Scotland	3
					New Zealand	49
	8 June – Ballymore, Brisbane
					Wales	6
	Wales	16
									20 June – Eden Park, Auckland
	England	3
									New Zealand	29
	7 June – Eden Park, Auckland
									France	9
	France	31
					13 June – Concord Oval, Sydney
	Fiji	16
					France	30			Third place
	7 June – Concord Oval, Sydney
					Australia	24
	Australia	33							Wales	22
	Ireland	15							Australia	21
									18 June – Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

1987-06-07

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

1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool D games –

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
France	3	0	0	82	25	9
Canada	2	0	1	45	33	7
Romania	1	0	2	31	64	5
Fiji	0	0	3	27	63	3

1991-10-05

Canada	13–3	Fiji
Tries: Stewart Pen: Rees (3)		Drop: Serevi

Stade Jean Dauger, Bayonne Referee: Kerry Fitzgerald

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1991-10-08

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

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1991-10-12

Fiji	15–17	Romania
Pen: Turuva (2) Drop: Rabaka (2), Turuva		Tries: Ion, Dumitras, Sasu Con: Racean Pen: Nichitean

Parc Municipal des Sports, Brive Referee: Owen Doyle

1995 Rugby World Cup

Did not qualify

1999 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 games –

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Points
France	3	0	0	108	52	6
Fiji	2	0	1	124	68	4
Canada	1	0	2	114	82	2
Namibia	0	0	3	28	186	0

1999-10-01

Fiji	67–18	Namibia
Tries: Fero Lasagavibau (2), Setareki Tawake Naivaluwaqa, Jacob Raulini, Viliame Satala, Alifereti Mocelutu Vuivau, Greg Smith, Imanueli Tikomaimakogai, Emori Katalau Con: Waisale Serevi (8) Pen: Waisale Servei (2)		Tries: Mario Jacobs, Johannes Senekal Con: Leandre Van Dyk Pen: Leandre Van Dyk (2)

Stade de la Méditerranée, Béziers Referee: David McHugh

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1999-10-09

Fiji	38–22	Canada
Tries: Viliame Satala (2), Marika Vunibaka, Fero Lasagavibau Con: Nicky Little (3) Pen: Nicky Little (3) Drop: Nicky Little		Tries: Mike James Con: Gareth Rees Pen: Gareth Rees (4) Drop: Gareth Rees

Parc Lescure, Bordeaux Referee: Ed Morrison

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1999-10-16

France	28–19	Fiji
Tries: Christophe Juillet, Christophe Dominici Con: Richard Dourthe (2) Pen: Richard Dourthe (2), Christophe Lamaison		Tries: Alfred Uluinayau Con: Nicky Little Pen: Nicky Little (4)

Stade de Toulouse Referee: Paddy O'Brien

Quarter-final play-offs –

	Quarter-final play-offs					Quarter-finals					Semi-finals					Final
							South Africa	44
							England	21
		England	45
		Fiji	24
												South Africa	21
											Australia	27
							Australia	24
							Wales	9
																	Australia	35
																	France	12
							New Zealand	30
							Scotland	18
		Scotland	35
		Samoa	20
												New Zealand	31
											France	43
							France	47
							Argentina	26
		Argentina	28
		Ireland	24

1999-10-20

England	45–24	Fiji
Tries: Dan Luger, Neil Back, Nick Beal, Phil Greening Con: Matt Dawson, Jonny Wilkinson Pen: Jonny Wilkinson (7)		Tries: Viliame Satala, Meli Nakauta, Imanueli Tikomaimakogai Con: Nicky Little (3) Pen: Waisale Serevi

Twickenham, London Attendance: 75,000 Referee: Clayton Thomas

2003 Rugby World Cup

Group B games –

Team	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	BP	Points
France	4	0	0	204	70	4	20
Scotland	3	0	1	102	97	2	14
Fiji	2	0	2	98	114	2	10
United States	1	0	3	86	125	2	6
Japan	0	0	4	79	163	0	0

2003-10-11

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

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2003-10-15

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

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2003-10-23

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

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2003-11-01

Scotland	22–20	Fiji
Tries: Smith Con: Paterson Pen: Paterson (5)		Tries: Caucaunibuca (2) Con: Little (2) Pen: Little (2)

Aussie Stadium, Sydney Attendance: 37,137 Referee: Tony Spreadbury

2007 Rugby World Cup

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.

Pool B games –

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup - Pool B

Team Pld W D L TF PF PA +/- BP Pts Australia 4 4 0 0 30 215 41 +174 4 20 Fiji 4 3 0 1 14 114 136 −22 3 15 Wales 4 2 0 2 23 168 105 +63 4 12 Japan 4 0 1 3 7 64 210 −146 1 3 Canada 4 0 1 3 6 51 120 −69 0 2

AUS CAN FJI JPN WAL Australia – 37 – 6 55 – 12 91 – 3 32 – 20 Canada – – 16 – 29 12 – 12 17 – 42 Fiji – – – 35 – 31 38 – 34 Japan – – – – 18 – 72 Wales – – – – –

Quarter finals match-

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup knockout stage

	Quarter-finals				Semi-finals				Final
	6 October – Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
	Australia	10
					13 October – Stade de France, St-Denis
	England	12
					England	14
	6 October – Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
					France	9
	New Zealand	18
									20 October – Stade de France, St-Denis
	France	20
									England	6
	7 October – Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
									South Africa	15
	South Africa	37
					14 October – Stade de France, St-Denis
	Fiji	20
					South Africa	37			Bronze Final
	7 October – Stade de France, St-Denis
					Argentina	13
	Argentina	19							France	10
	Scotland	13							Argentina	34
									19 October – Parc des Princes, Paris

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'	Report	Tries: 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)

Hosting

So far 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, it is unlikely it will do so in the future.

References

• 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)