International
Fiji Name 32-Man Squad Ahead of World Cup
Fiji have cut their initial 50-man squad down to just 32 players ahead of next month’s tournament in Japan

Fijian head coach John McKee has announced a 32-man squad ahead of the Rugby World Cup in Japan next month.
The squad will be cut down to 31 before the tournament starts meaning one player from the remaining group will miss out.
Fiji will be captained by veteran forward Dominiko Waqaniburotu, who is one of five players that will appear at their third World Cup along with Kini Murimurivalu, Vereniki Goneva, Leone Nakarawa and Campese Ma’afu.
In total there are 17 players included that turned out for Fiji during the 2015 edition of the competition.
McKee has called on his players to now step up their preparations for the tournament.
“I wish the players selected well and remind them of the responsibility they must take on in representing Fiji in a Rugby World Cup. With 35 days until our opening match against the Wallabies, now is the time to step our preparation up in the final phase to ensure we put ourselves in the best position to achieve our performance goals at the World Cup,” he said.
There are a number of players included from National Rugby Championship side the Fijian Drua, with Frank Lomani, the new Melbourne Rebels signing the pick of the bunch.
As well as them there are some European-based players such as Semi Radradra, Ben Volavola and Waisea Nayacalevu, with Sevens star turned XV’s powerhouse Viliame Mata among them.
McKee is happy with the mix of youth and experience and believes that the country are in with a chance of qualifying from Pool D which contains Wales and the Wallabies.
“I am very pleased to announce a group of players to represent Fiji at the World Cup, which I believe has the potential to challenge for a place in the play-offs from Pool D. With selections made, players can focus completely on their preparation for the World Cup and being the best player they can be for the team and for Fiji. This is an exciting time for these men who have been selected for the Flying Fijians heading to the World Cup in Japan. They must not let this opportunity to do something special for Fiji slip by,” he added.
The Fijians now head on a 10-day training camp before facing Tonga in the Pasifika Challenge II on the 31st of August.
They will then head to Japan on September 6th ahead of their opening game against the Wallabies on the 21st.
Check Out the Full 32-Man Squad Below.
FORWARDS:
Campese Ma’afu
Eroni Mawi
Peni Ravai
Mesulame Dolokoto
Samuel Matavesi
Ratu Vere Vugakoto
Lee-Roy Atalifo
Manasa Saulo
Kalivati Tawake
Tevita Cavubati
Leone Nakarawa
Api Ratuniyarawa
Tevita Ratuva
Semi Kunatani
Viliame Mata
Mosese Voka
Dominiko Waqaniburotu
Peceli Yato
BACKS:
Frank Lomani
Nikola Matawalu
Henry Seniloli
Levani Botia
Jale Vatubua
Ben Volavola
Vereniki Goneva
Filipo Nakosi
Waisea Nayacalevu
Semi Radradra
Josua Tuisova
Joshua Matavesi
Alivereti Veitokani
Kini Murimurivalu
International
Savea back at the helm of the Hurricanes

All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea will captain the Hurricanes again for the 2023 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
Savea, who will have his 11th season in the side, will mark his first appearance in the competition by playing his 120th game.
The Hurricanes’ season opens against the Reds in round one.
Savea said: “I’m looking forward to the season, especially getting out to the communities, when we play in Levin against the Crusaders for our pre-season game and Palmerston North against the Western Force on Sunday, April 2.
“We’ve just moved into our new facility, and there’s something awesome about change; it’s brought in a lot of energy. It’s refreshing to come in and be in a new space alongside other professional teams. Hopefully, being here can help us move forward and prepare well for our games.”
The facility is part of the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport at what was the Central Institute of Technology at Trentham and houses, several Wellington-based teams.
Coach Jason Holland was delighted to be able to call on Savea’s leadership ability again.
“Ardie is a special leader. He’s the sort of guy you want to follow in whatever he does. He’s worked hard at his leadership around all the small details, around how to get the best out of the people around him.
“He’s been good at driving us as a group, players and management, about being well-planned and clear in our roles in what we’re leading.
“Ards has a great relationship with all the boys and cares about them and the team and that shows in the way he leads.”
International
Marshall primed for Crusaders coaching opportunity

James Marshall couldn’t escape rugby’s draw after retiring from playing and failed in his promised avoidance of the coaching ranks.
The former Super Rugby title winner with the Hurricanes has fitted into coaching so well that he will spend 2023 as backs coach for the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific.
Auckland-born Marshall started his rugby career with Tasman, but when missing a place in the Super Rugby structure, in a team or wider training group, he had a chance as a 20-year-old to play in Italy with Zebre.
It proved a stimulating experience in coping with playing a different style of rugby at a different level.
He returned to New Zealand six months later for another three seasons with Tasman before getting a chance in the Hurricanes’ wider squad. He had spent four years trying to get a place in the Crusaders.
“I could never crack it as a player but I’m here now as a coach,” he said.
“It is surreal to be here now. When I finished rugby, I promised my wife I wouldn’t get into coaching. We had moved around so many times during my career, even when I was playing for the Hurricanes moving to Taranaki every six months.
“We worked it out there were well over 20 houses we lived in throughout my career so when I got to the end of it I did say I wouldn’t be chasing the coaching dream, and I wouldn’t be moving the family around any more.”
However, back in Nelson, he got the chance to work with Andrew Goodman and Shane Christie, which gave him coaching work where he had decided to settle.
“Then a couple of years later,, I get a call from Razor [Scott Robertson] and it really throws a spanner in the works for my wife and when I got the opportunity, it was a no brainer. It’s such a good opportunity for me to learn and see where coaching can now take me.”
He contacted David Havili to see if he felt Marshall could do the job asked of him as backs coach and to see if he would have the backing of the players.
Havili got back in touch to say how much he thought Marshall could add to the environment. He also contacted some of his Hurricanes contacts and admitted being surprised at how supportive they were.
The Crusaders were one of the most successful sides in the sport’s history, and looking from the outside while playing, he had always wondered what went on and how they did it.
“It’s been impressive. It’s a well-run ship. Razor does a great job. Scotty Hansen, the detail he has on the rugby programme. Tamati Ellison, some of his coaching, it’s all world-class.
“It’s been awesome for me as a young coach to witness these guys at work and try and learn as much as I can off them.
“There’s also the players. It’s a pretty impressive squad when you look at it on paper and the chance to work with some world-class athletes and try and teach them as much as I can, but also try and learn from them,” he said.
6 Nations
RTÉ And Virgin Media Confirm Details Of Free-To-Air Six Nations Coverage

RTÉ and Virgin Media Television today announced details of its joint Guinness Six Nations coverage, where the action will be free-to-air for supporters in the Republic of Ireland.
Kicking off on Friday, 3 February, this year’s Six Nations coverage will include all fixtures from Ireland’s Men’s, Women’s and U20 tournaments.
The partnership will see all games equally aired across both broadcasters again this year.
The 2023 Men’s Six Nations will open with Ireland v Wales on Virgin Media One, followed by England v Scotland on RTÉ2. Ireland will then take on current champions France on Saturday, 11 February.
The TikTok Women’s Six Nations will begin on Sunday, 26 March with Wales v Ireland.
Speaking at this morning’s launch at the Aviva Stadium, presenters Jacqui Hurley and Joe Molloy were joined on stage by members of their broadcast teams this year including pundits Rob Kearney, Fiona Hayes (Virgin Media Television), and RTÉ’s Jamie Heaslip and Hannah Tyrrell.
RTÉ also confirmed that Irish international and Munster player Simon Zebo will be joining their punditry team.
Commenting, Head of RTÉ Sport, Declan McBennett said: “With this being a great year for rugby, there is added excitement about this year’s Six Nations which RTÉ is once again bringing to sports fans all over the country free-to-air along with Virgin Media Ireland as part of our historic partnership which we launched last year.
“It’s going to be a huge year for Irish rugby and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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