Fiji Rugby Union

With 39 players to pick from and two weeks of team camp, Raiwalui and his management team will have to sit down and select 23 for the game against the 'Ikale Tahi in Lautoka.

That is one of the two opening round matches in the 2023 Pacific Nations Cup series, the other seeing Manu Samoa tackle Japan in Sapporo.

A week's camp in Taveuni, about one day's boat ride from Suva, had helped the team bond together.

Raiwalui told FBC Sports that the players have shown intensity at training.

Head Coach Simon Raiwalui is impressed with the Ikale Tahi after beating Australia A in Nukualofa last week.

The Tongans have the advantage having a game under their belt while Raiwalui will work things around before selecting his final 33 member squad for the Rugby World Cup in France.

Raiwalui said Tonga has a good squad.

“Yeah they played really well, look really well organized so it will be a tough match.”

The national coach is also thankful to have Fijian Drua star Joseva Tamani in camp.

Mazey said the FRU had even budgeted for the Flying Fijians to reach the final of the tournament in France, but there was bad news of budget cuts for the double Olympic Games gold medal-winning sevens squad.

Speaking at a media conference at Rugby House, Mazey said: “We have only been here a month and there is so much work for us to do in getting everything here in order, so we are asking the people of Fiji to bear with us.

“We know that many of you have disliked us, or do not like us, but we are doing everything we can to get things in order.

Head Coach Simon Raiwalui has finalized his 39-member extended squad which marches into camp in Taveuni on Saturday.

Out of the 45 players named in the wider group a fortnight ago, Raiwalui has reduced the squad to 39 after all club commitments were finished.

Prop Jone Koroiduadua, Setareki Tuicuvu, Adrea Cocagi and Mesulame Dolokoto have been dropped while Haereiti Hetet and Joseva Tamani are still recovering from injury, and will be managed from outside the group by the medical staff.

Sereima Leweniqila raised the issue of non-payment of allowances in a Facebook Post on Tuesday.

"Do we have to win everytime to be treated right? Could we get paid the amount due to us?" she wrote.

"What does it take for our voices to be heard? Do we always have to fight to get what we deserve? Pay Us What is Due to Us," she added.

Two more Fijiana players waded into the discussion online.

Drua captain Bitila Tawake said on Facebook the Fiji Rugby Football Union (FRFU) should not compare them to the men's development team the Fiji Warriors.

This follows World Rugby's decision to suspend the Fijian rugby union from its council membership.

FRU acting administration officer Sale Sorovaki told local media at the weekend that the governing body has taken the decision following the Fijian government's intervention through the Justice Minister Siromi Turaga a fortnight ago.

Turaga revealed in a meeting with then members of the FRU Board in Suva that Fiji rugby's national management body was operating illegally since 1918 because the registration of the FRU Charitable Trust was not in order.

The FRU will have new trustees, an administrator to take the union to the annual general meeting, and a new set of board members to elect following days of meetings in Suva.

As pressure from major rugby unions like Suva, Naitasiri, Nadroga and Namosi mounted on the executives at Rugby House in the capital, the word finally got out that there were changes to be made.

FRU acting chief executive officer Sale Sorovaki, a son-in-law of former Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, confirmed to media that the planned AGM in Lautoka on Saturday had been postponed.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka announced that the Flying Fijians have received a massive boost.

A statement said the agreement with Earth’s finest water will provide $3.8 million to help ensure the Flying Fijians are in the strongest position to compete at the World Cup in France.

The deal builds on previous support FIJI Water provided for the Flying Fijians when it was a supporting sponsor of the team in 2020 during the Autumn Nations Cup. For the past three years, the FRU and Flying Fijians have been supported through the Fiji Sports Commission and government funding.

He alleged that Seruvakula, who was the president of the Fiji Rugby Referees Association, was not consistent in his rulings.

In an article published by The Fiji Times on July 8, 1977, he said several times Seruvakula moved the whistle to his mouth “and looked as if he was going to blow it, but then did not”.

“This showed that he was indecisive and he wasn’t sure what rule he was following because he used the advantage rule at times but did not do so at other times,” Vivili said.

Tuiloa came in two months ago to replace John O'Connor.

The interim the role is to be taken by the current union chair, Commodore Humphrey Tawake.