Nickname(s) Warriors, Fiji A Union Fiji Rugby Union | Emblem(s) the Palm | |
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The Fiji Warriors, also referred to as Fiji A, is a national representative rugby team of rugby union in Fiji. It is the second-tier side to the Fiji national rugby union team. The Warriors team is selected from players in the Fijian domestic competitions and competes in the World Rugby Pacific Challenge against Samoa A and Tonga A. Since 2016, the Fiji Warriors team has played in the Americas Pacific Challenge against national A teams from North and South America. As of 2017, the Warriors will also play in Australia's National Rugby Championship.
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History
Fiji's national A team has made several tours to South America, the earliest being in 2003 where they defeated Uruguay by 24–3 in Montevideo. But the history of the second national team can be traced back almost half a century earlier to 1955 when a Fiji XV side undertook a two week tour of Samoa and was undefeated in all three matches played.
The Fiji Warriors first played in the Pacific Rugby Cup in 2006, but the team was one of two Fijian sides in the competition for the first five years – the other being the Fiji Barbarians – and so it was not considered to be Fiji A for that period.
In 2010, Fiji A played two matches against Tonga A in the first Punjas Series. The team had one win and one loss but claimed the series on aggregate scores. This result was repeated in the second (and concluding) Punjas Series in 2011.
The Pacific Rugby Cup was reorganised in 2011, with Fiji Warriors becoming the sole Fijian representative in the PRC, which has since been mainly contested by national 'A' teams. From 2011 onward the Fiji Warriors team has effectively been Fiji A.
In 2012, the Fiji A team toured to Ireland where they suffered one of their heaviest defeats, beaten 53–0 at Limerick by the Ireland Wolfhounds.
At the 2015 World Rugby Pacific Challenge, the Fiji Warriors were the runner-up, with wins over Junior Japan and Samoa A and two defeats against the Argentine Pampas XV. In May 2015, the Fiji Warriors made a South American tour to play Uruguay and an Argentina XV, winning all three matches. In 2016, it played World Rugby Pacific Challenge and also World Rugby Americas Pacific Challenge.
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama met with the Australian Rugby Union in 2017 discussing a pathway for development of Fijian rugby players. The Fiji Warriors will join the National Rugby Championship in 2017, funded by World Rugby.
Current squad
Fiji Warriors 28-man squad for the uncapped June matches against Uruguay and Pampas XV, acting as 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-ups for all three nations. The team will be coached by Senirusi Seruvakula, who will work closely with the national head coach John McKee.
Warriors Head Coach: Senirusi Seruvakula
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Honours
Americas Pacific Challenge
Pacific Challenge (formerly the Pacific Rugby Cup)
Season standings
Americas Pacific Challenge
Pacific Challenge
International results
Matches against national teams or national 'A" teams up to and including 2014 Pacific Rugby Cup: