ACL injury fails to stop Vakacavu’s comeback – FBC News
Trinity Vakacavu’s return to the basketball court this year is a powerful testament to her determination and resilience [Photo: SUPPLIED] Seventeen-year-old Trinity Vakacavu’s return to the basketball court this year is a powerful testament to her determination and resilience. After spending nearly, a year recovering from an ACL injury, Vakacavu earned selection in the national squad for the FIBA U17 Women’s Oceania Cup, held in Samoa earlier this month. Chosen as co-captain, she played a key leadership role in guiding the team to a fifth-place finish against some of Oceania’s strongest junior programs. Article continues after advertisement “The experience was extra special to me, since it was the first basketball game I had played after a whole year off, coming back from my ACL injury. I was completely overwhelmed by so many emotions, then they named me ‘co-captain.” The tournament marked her first competitive appearance since suffering the ACL injury, adding an emotional dimension to her comeback. Vakacavu currently plays club basketball in Australia with the McKinnon Cougars. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Ba FC shares Christmas cheer with hospital patients – FBC News
Football in Ba has always been more than a game, it is a way of life that binds the community together. Living up to that tradition, Ba Football Club took time away from the pitch to spread festive cheer at Ba Aspen Hospital, reminding supporters that the Men in Black stand with their people beyond match day. Led by club management and players, the visit focused on patients currently recovering in hospital offering encouragement, compassion and a simple reminder that they are not alone, especially during the festive season. Article continues after advertisement The team arrived with 45 carefully prepared Christmas hampers, thoughtfully put together to bring comfort and joy. As the players personally handed over the gifts, emotions ran high. For many patients, receiving a hamper from the footballers they admire was overwhelming, with tears of gratitude reflecting the deep bond between club and community. The visit once again highlighted Ba FC’s strong connection with its supporters. For patients, the presence of the Men in Black provided a brief but meaningful escape from their challenges, reinforcing the message that the club stands firmly with its people in both good times and difficult moments. Ba Football Association President Praneel Dayal says the gesture was never about recognition or publicity. “This is the Ba FC way. We are here for everyone in our community. Our strength does not only come from victories on the field, but from the strong foundation we share with the people of Ba.” Under his leadership, Ba Football continues to reinforce its commitment to being more than just a football club — striving to remain a pillar of the community built on kindness, empathy and unity. As Christmas approaches, Ba FC hopes the visit inspires others to look out for one another and keep the spirit of giving alive. The Men in Black may be known for their dominance on the pitch, but moments like these prove their greatest victories are often achieved off it. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji Blue confirmed for FSC 7s – FBC News
Supplied: Fiji Sports Council A shadow national side, Fiji Blue, will be featuring in the Rooster Grassroots Fiji 7s which starts today at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. Organized by the Fiji Sports Council, Fiji Blue is in pool A with Dominion Brothers, Army Red and Vuna Brothers. The team will be made up of players in the national squad. Article continues after advertisement Army Green, Covenant Brothers, Lomaiviti and Ravete Bothers make up group B. BLK Lavidi, Coral Coaster, Birdland Brothers and Tubarua Highlanders are in pool C while FSC Grassroots Fiji, Vunimono, Vokainations and Lomaiviti Highlanders are in group D. The tournament starts at 9am at the HFC Bank Stadium while volleyball will be played at the FMF Gymnasium. Grandstand tickets are selling at $5 each for 7s and $5 for volleyball. You can watch the 7s a action live and exclusive on FBC 2. Overseas viewers can watch it on vitiplus for $20FJD. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Successful year for Weightlifting Fiji – FBC News
Weightlifting Fiji is celebrating a landmark year after its athletes delivered strong performances across regional and world competitions, positioning the sport for an even bigger 2026 season. From junior championships to global events featuring more than 150 countries, Fiji’s lifters not only won medals but also broke records and secured direct qualification spots for major Games. Head coach Nehemiah Elder says the results reflect a year of sacrifice, elite preparation and belief in a small but determined weightlifting community. Article continues after advertisement “Firstly, all thanks to God for our achievements and the 2025 accomplishments. We did quite well. I’m very excited about the performances of our athletes. We started the year with an elite training camp in Samoa and that really set the tone high for us.” Elder highlighted standout results from the Oceania training camp in Apia, where Taniel Rainibongi and Nehemiah Elder were recognised among the top athletes, before the team went on to shine at the Oceania U17 and U20 Championships in Melbourne. “We came away from that competition winning multiple medals and also breaking Oceania and Commonwealth records in the junior and youth categories, Nehemiah won six gold medals, Zion Tokona won three gold, and Miriama Taletawa secured three silver medals.” The momentum carried into the World Youth and Junior Championships in Peru, where all four Fijian athletes finished inside the top 20 in the world. Fiji also impressed at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau, collecting four gold, three silver and four bronze medals, before Rainibogi produced a breakthrough performance at the Commonwealth Championships in India. Looking ahead, Elder says Weightlifting Fiji is targeting further qualification spots with major events lined up in Samoa, Colombia, Egypt and China next year. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Wainiqolo and Tuisova in RugbyPass Top 100 – FBC News
Two Fijian rugby players have been chosen in a new ranking of the best men’s players of 2025 by rugby news site, RugbyPass. The ‘RugbyPass Top 100’ – an annual list which is curated by a global panel of the site’s experts and journalists – first launched in 2024, where a number of Fijian players also featured. For this year’s edition, the two players included are Jiuta Wainiqolo who was ranked 89th and Josua Tuisova who the experts placed higher up the list in a respectable 65th. Article continues after advertisement Speaking about Tuisova’s inclusion in the list, rugby journalist Jamie Lyall said if there is a better ball-carrier in world rugby other than ‘The Bus’. Another highlight from the 2025 Top 100 is that Springboks star, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, has been named as the number one player in the world right now. In addition, the list – which was topped by France talisman Antoine Dupont in 2024 – has also been dominated by South Africa players. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Canada embrace tough pool at RWC – FBC News
[Source: Canada Rugby Website] Canada’s path to the 2027 Rugby World Cup will see them line up alongside the Flying Fijians in what is shaping up to be one of the tournament’s most entertaining pools, and head coach Stephen Meehan believes the challenge is one to embrace rather than fear. Drawn in Pool C with Fiji, Argentina and Spain, the Canadian men will face three sides known for their attacking style and flair. Canada, currently ranked 25th in the world, will come up against sixth-ranked Argentina, eighth-ranked Fiji and 15th-ranked Spain when the tournament kicks off in Australia. Article continues after advertisement Meehan welcomed the draw, saying it offered exactly the kind of rugby his side wants to be part of. “As the names were drawn out of the buckets this morning, I wasn’t unhappy about any of it. I thought it was great. It’s something to really look forward to.” The Australian coach highlighted Fiji as part of a pool built around running rugby and entertainment. “All those teams are running rugby teams. That’s the brand of rugby I really love and what most people want to see. “I think that’s a particularly exciting pool, an exciting challenge for us.” With Fiji’s explosive style and Argentina’s established pedigree setting the tone in Pool C, Canada will be aiming to rise to the occasion and test themselves against some of the game’s most dynamic teams on rugby’s biggest stage. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji Sports Council 7s starts tomorrow, live on FBC 2 – FBC News
[Fiji Sports Council/Facebook] Top teams will be in action at the Rooster Chicken Fiji Sports Council Grassroots 7s and Volleyball tournaments, which start at the HFC Bank Stadium and FMF Gymnasium in Suva. For sevens rugby ,there are teams like Army, Police, Wardens and Yaro Chiefs. The volleyball competition has not only attracted teams in Viti Levu but Vanua Levu as well. Article continues after advertisement Fiji Sports Council Events representative, Lenaitasi Vakatora says they even had to extend the under 20s registration twice due to the demand. Organizers initially targeted 12 U20 teams but increased it to 16, however, due to the interest, they welcomed another four teams. Vakatora also says that one of the men’s marquee teams, Devo Babas, has withdrawn from the tournament. ‘The sole reason is that the majority of their players have migrated to another club so they’ve been unable to form a team and participate in the FSC Grassroots 7s tournament’. The volleyball competition which has a prize purse of $3000 for the men’s winner, has generated a lot of interest. Matai Daulako, the president of the Nasinu Alliance Volleyball, says this is one of the biggest prize money. Daulako and Nasinu volleyball have teamed up with FSC to run the tournament and he says three teams from Vanua Levu will be taking part. The tournaments starts tomorrow with admission fees at $5 each for the HFC Stadium and FMF Gymnasium. You can watch the rugby 7s action live tomorrow and Friday on FBC 2. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Academy boys step up with Drua main squad – FBC News
[Photo/file] The Fijian Drua Academy players were given a valuable taste of elite rugby today after joining the main squad for a training session, as part of the franchise’s ongoing pathway development. The session allowed the young academy prospects to train alongside established Drua players, exposing them to Super Rugby standards, intensity and expectations. It also reinforced the club’s commitment to grooming future talent from within its development system. Article continues after advertisement Drua Academy Under-17 player Jone Raibevu said the experience was a major learning opportunity. “I’m grateful to be given the opportunity to come and train with the main squad. We’ve always been watching them, but to come and train with them I’ve learnt a lot, especially to always listen and be disciplined.” The joint session highlighted the importance of discipline, attitude and hard work as the Academy players continue their journey toward higher levels of professional rugby. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji Athletics great honoured for lifetime of excellence – FBC News
One of Fiji’s greatest athletics legends, Usaia Sotutu, was honoured this morning in a special ceremony celebrating his outstanding contribution to the sport and his lasting legacy on the national and regional stage. The morning tea, hosted by Athletics Fiji in partnership with the Fiji Sports Council at the FMF Gymnasium Training Room in Laucala Bay, brought together former teammates, friends, officials and members of the athletics community to recognise Sotutu’s achievements, which span decades. Sotutu proudly represented Fiji at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games and enjoyed remarkable success at the Pacific Games, most notably at the 1971 Pacific Games in Tahiti where he won four gold medals. Article continues after advertisement His dominance in middle- and long-distance events during his career cemented his place as one of Fiji’s most accomplished track athletes. In recognition of his impact, he was inducted into the Fiji Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. Speaking at the event, Sotutu said he was deeply grateful and honoured to be recognised, adding that it was especially meaningful to reconnect with friends and former teammates from his competitive days. He described the gathering as a reminder of the strong bonds forged through sport and the pride of representing Fiji on the international stage. Organisers said the event was not only a celebration of Sotutu’s medals and milestones, but also an acknowledgement of his inspiration to generations of Fijian athletes who continue to follow in his footsteps. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
7s legends to guide NZ Fijian Cavaliers – FBC News
[Source:Coral Coast 7s Facebook] Former stars will come together and mentor the New Zealand Fijian Cavaliers at the 2026 McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s in Sigatoka. The team will be making its debut at a tournament known for bringing together some of the toughest and most exciting sevens teams and players in the world. The coaching team is spearheaded by Former Flying Fijians lock Akuila Matanibukaca and Fiji 7s legend Pio Tuwai, with expert guidance from New Zealand 7s greats Eric Rush and Amasio Raoma. Article continues after advertisement Eager to showcase their rugby spirit, the Cavaliers bring a blend of heart, passion, and a balanced NZ Fijian style to the world-famous Coral Coast Sevens. Tournament Founding Chairman Jay Whyte welcomes the announcement and says the NZ Fijian Cavaliers bring a special energy and culture to the Coral Coast Fiji 7s. He adds their intention to compete and challenge themselves adds real excitement to the 2026 tournament. Fans can look forward to a structured yet fast, skilful, and disciplined brand of rugby from the Cavaliers grounded in teamwork, attitude, humility, and respect for this amazing game and iconic tournament. As preparations continue and more teams are confirmed, the Coral Coast Fiji 7s is shaping up to be one of the strongest line-ups yet. Akuila Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.