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Fiji at the Rugby World Cup 
Summary
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 | Qualification | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | Squad | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  1987
|
Quarter-finals | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 72 | 132 | Squad | Invited | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
     1991
|
Pool Stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 27 | 63 | Squad | Automatically qualified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 1995
|
Did not qualify | 2nd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 34 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999
|
Quarter-final play-offs | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 148 | 113 | Squad | 2nd | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 151 | 116 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003
|
Pool Stage | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 98 | 114 | Squad | 1st | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 123 | 80 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007
|
Quarter-finals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 134 | 173 | Squad | 2nd | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 74 | 83 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011
|
Pool Stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 59 | 167 | Squad | Automatically qualified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015
|
Pool Stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 84 | 101 | Squad | 1st | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 108 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 2019
|
Pool Stage | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 110 | 108 | Squad | 1st | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 101 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023
|
Quarter-finals | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 112 | 113 | Squad | Automatically qualified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | Quarter-finals | 37 | 13 | 0 | 24 | 844 | 1084 | 20 | 16 | 0 | 4 | 583 | 379 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By match edit
1987 Rugby World Cup edit
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:
Notes:
| 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 |
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 |
| 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 |
| 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  |
1999 Rugby World Cup edit
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) | Report | Try: Satala Nakauta Tiko Con: Little (3) Pen: Serevi |
| Twickenham, London Attendance: 55,000 Referee: Clayton Thomas (Wales) |
2003 Rugby World Cup edit
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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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
| 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' | Report | Tries: 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' | Report | Tries: 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' | Report | Tries: 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' | Report | Tries: 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
| 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) |
2011 Rugby World Cup edit
| 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
| 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
| 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: 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' | Report | Try: Tuisova 4' m Murimurivalu 9' m Penalty try 54' |
| Oita Stadium, Ōita Attendance: 33,379 Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France) |
Hosting edit
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, but hopefully it will host it in the near future.
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)