The Fiji Times

Melvin follows his dad’s boxing footsteps

The name Chand is not new in the local boxing rings, and 13-year-old Melvin Chand will try and make a name for himself in the boxing arena. The Year 9 student of Swami Viveknanda College in Nadi, who is the son of South Pacific Boxing promoter Freddy Chand, took part in his first ever amateur...

Women enjoy day on the greens

Forty-six women are taking part in the 52nd GM Motors Fiji Golf Open championship. Dorothy Mason from New Zealand, who is competing in the ladies division, said the weather was much better than yesterday. “It is good for development of the game to see more ladies participating,” she said. Mason added she enjoyed playing in...

Prakash leads field

Schoolteacher Roneel Prakash is gunning for top spot at the 52nd GM Motors Fiji Golf Open championship at the Denarau Golf and Racquet Club. He shot a five-under 67 yesterday to bring his total to 136. On day one, Prakash shot three-under par 69. In second place and two shots behind is Zoheer Ahmad at...

Labasa in first loss

The Digicel Labasa football side suffered its first defeat at the OFC Women’s Champions League in Papua New Guinea going down to Solomon Island’s Koloale FC 1-nil yesterday. Labasa was a shadow of a side compared to the performance in which they beat Samoa’s Kiwi FC 6-nil earlier this week. Women’s football in the Solomon...

Silktails get first back to back win of the season

The Kaiviti Silktails got their first back to back win of the season after they thrashed Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs side by 34-12 at Churchill Park in Lautoka yesterday in the Ron Massey Cup competition round 11 match. The Silktails started strong with a couple of good set-piece play and combining passes. Meli Nasau pouched on...

Namosi dedicates win to late coach

The Namosi women’s rugby team had booked its spot in the final of the ANZ Marama Championship this year after beating Yasawa 36-22 in Prince Charles Park, Nadi yesterday. The side will play Suva in the final after the Capital City girls beat Navosa 48-5. Namosi Skipper Laisani Navukaro said their win yesterday would not...

Skipper commends brothers

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua skipper Meli Derenalagi describes the 41-17 win over the Reds as an emotional one as they have secured a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific quarter finals next week. “It’s quite an emotional win for the players and I as we were excited to play in front of...

Paul hopes to follow sibling

“He is my biggest inspiration.” These were the words of Paul Dolokoto, the younger brother of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua prop Mesulame Dolokoto, while watching him play against the Reds last night. Paul, who is also a member of the Fiji Warriors side just returned from Samoa after winning the World Rugby Pacific Challenge. “He’s...

Tamani shines in final Drua home game

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua lock Joseva Tamani had a memorable last match in front of home fans scoring a try to seal a 41-17 win against the Reds to help secure his side a spot in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific playoffs. Tamani is set to leave the Drua at the end of...

Byrne, Drua reflects on historic finals berth

From the VFL to Fijian rugby, Mick Byrne rates his latest feat among the most special after the Drua earned a Super Rugby Pacific finals berth and dedicated it to the Australian coach’s late father. The Drua ran rampant in the second half on Saturday in Suva, scoring 24 unanswered points to beat the Queensland...

11,000km trip to watch Fijian Drua

Pablo Donvido and his mates travelled more than 11,000km from Argentina to Suva to watch the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua take on the Queensland Reds at the HFC Bank Stadium yesterday. “I have always loved watching rugby from when I was a child, and coming all this way to watch Fiji play is just amazing,”...

Electric atmosphere hits Vueta, cousins

“Electric” was how Kadavu lad Lasarusa Vueta described the atmosphere at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva yesterday. He said watching the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua take it to the Queensland Reds in the company of his cousins was nothing short of exhilarating. “It’s really fun and exciting watching our boys play, here at their...

Family travels early for match

The family members of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Kalaveti Ravouvou came out in numbers to watch their son play his last home game for the Nadi-based side as they beat the Reds 41-17 at the HFC Bank Stadium. Ravouvou’s uncle, Mesake Lalai said it was pleasing to see his nephew play his heart out...

Drua power | Derenalagi thanks fans for support

“They’ve played in mud for four months in a year and they just love it and I’ve seen it first-hand this year, driving across parks that don’t even have football fields so whatever the weather is, there is no exception.” These were the words of Swire Shipping Fijian Drua head coach Mick Byrne as they...

Crusaders to host Drua in quarter-final match

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will take on defending champions the Crusaders next Saturday in Christchurch, New Zealand. The Meli Derenalagi captained side beat the Queensland Reds 41-17 in Suva yesterday to reach the Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals for the first time. In other quarterfinal matches, the Blues will take on the Waratahs at 7:35pm...

Drua sails through | Fans live up to expectation

Cheers of victory and joy filled the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva last night as the final whistle was blown to confirm the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua’s spot in the quarterfinals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. The Mick Byrne coached side hammered the Reds 41-17, in a match that has catapulted...

Argentinian court gives suspended sentence to Boca Juniors’ Villa

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – Colombian striker Sebastian Villa Cano, who plays for Argentina’s top club Boca Juniors, was given a suspended prison sentence of more than two years on Friday after being found guilty of violence against his former partner Daniela Cortes. Villa was denounced in April 2020 by Cortes through photos of injuries published...

Drua’s defining moment

Let’s take a look into the past games and replay all the memories of when the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua started its journey in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific competition. A combination of two modes of sea transport from the olden days when our ancestors use the waqa vakaviti also known as the...

Drua book quarter-final spot after victory over Reds

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side is through to the quarter finals of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific after a 41-17 win over the Reds in Suva this evening. Tied 17-all at halftime, the Drua scored 24 unanswered points in the second spell. This is the Drua’s first ever win with a bonus...

Super Rugby Pacific | Drua, Reds locked at 17 all

The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua side scored three first half tries to the Reds two but the scores remain tied at 17-all at halftime in a Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific match in Suva. Salestino Ravutaumada, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Vilive Miramira scored the tries for the home side. The Fijian Drua need to win...

Drua’s golden boy | The rise of Iosefo Masi

Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki became a household name after delivering a sensational performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. After making a name for himself in 7s, Masi is turning heads in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. His hat-trick against the Moana Pasifika brought fans to their feet as they gave Fiji’s latest sensation a standing...

Clinics vital for Fiji

Fiji Bati head coach Wise Kativerata says conducting ongoing development programs for children and youths of Fiji will benefit both, the Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) and Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) in the future, in terms of availability of players. Kativerata has been visiting primary and secondary schools, rugby clubs, and villages all over Fiji...

Kearsey happy with reps

Australia Deaf Rugby coach David Kearsey is impressed with the level of talent our deaf rugby players have in Fiji. Kearsey is in Fiji as part of Fiji Rugby Union and Rugby Australia’s “Vuvale Week” tour, funded by the Australian Government, and conducted a training session with players from Deaf Rugby Fiji and said the...

Natabe rates women’s league

Fiji National Rugby League acting chief executive officer Don Natabe says fans and rugby league enthusiasts can expect fireworks when the FNRL Women’s Premiership kicks start at Churchill Park in Lautoka today. Natabe announced the fixtures for the tournament, with FNRL W Premiership champions, Police Sharks and Lami Steelers clash being the highlight of the...

Evans banks on fans

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua chief executive officer Mark Evans says Fijian Drua fans will play a very crucial role in determining their performance, when they take on the Reds in their last home game in Fiji of the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season. The Drua currently has four wins in their five home...

Down to the wire as Drua ready for Reds

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua chief executive officer Mark Evans believes the Drua has come a long way since their inclusion in the Super Rugby competition. “To be able to reach the stage where we have a chance into the quarter-finals was probably an aim for us internally,” he said. “We thought to get to the...

Ma’afu rates Ikanivere

Former Fiji Water Flying Fijians prop Campese Ma’afu highly rates the young Swire Shipping Fijian Drua hooker, Tevita Ikanivere. Ma’afu said on Greg Clarke’s podcast that he knew Ikanivere was destined for greatness when he was part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup extended squad. “Back in the 2019 RWC preparations, I had a chat...

Kala’s top finish target

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua player Kalaveti Ravouvou hopes to finish off his last home game for the 2023 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season with a win against the Reds. Ravouvou, who will join the Bristol Bears after this season said he is grateful for the opportunity given to him by the staff and...

First for Tuqiri to watch Drua

Former Wallabies great Lote Tuqiri says he is excited to watch his first-ever Swire Shipping Fijian Drua game live and is expecting a quality display of rugby when the men in blue take on the Reds in their last home game here in Fiji at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. “Just from watching their...

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Boxing feast for fans