Historical Pacific Cup win for Rewa – FBC News
[Source: Rewa Football Club/ Facebook] Rewa FC claimed their first-ever Pacific Cup title after a tense final in New Zealand last night. The Delta Tigers edged defending champions NZFFI Auckland FC 7–6 on penalties, following a gritty 0–0 stalemate at full time. The victory caps off a remarkable season for Rewa, one marked by four major titles and two runner-up finishes. Article continues after advertisement Assistant coach Priyant Mannu says the win carried extra weight because of the journey the side has been on this year. He says that the team’s hunger and determination were key, with senior players like Setareki Hughes and Tevita Waranaivalu steering the group through crucial moments. Mannu adds the squad’s fight and unity made the difference in a final that demanded composure until the very last kick. The Nausori based side returns today from New Zealand. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Duplantis, McLaughlin-Levrone win World Athlete of the Year titles – FBC News
Source: Reuters Sweden’s pole vault sensation Mondo Duplantis and American 400 metres World champion Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone were named World Athletes of the Year on Sunday. Duplantis, along with retaining his gold medal at the World Championships in Tokyo in September, continued his dominance of the event, breaking his own world record another four times and was undefeated in 16 competitions. The 26-year-old also won a fifth consecutive Diamond League title. Article continues after advertisement Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Surfers may soon pay to ride Fiji’s best waves – FBC News
File Photo A major change is coming to Fiji’s surfing landscape as government moves to repeal the Surfing Decree, potentially paving the way for paid access to some of the world’s top reef breaks. For more than a decade, the Surfing Decree introduced in 2010 opened Cloudbreak, Restaurants and other iconic waves to everyone, ending the era when foreign owned resorts controlled access and only paying guests could surf. Speaking to ABC Pacific News, Fijian surf pioneer Ian Ravouvou Muller says the decree transformed the sport in Fiji. Article continues after advertisement “We as locals couldn’t surf. We were treated as second class citizens in our own country. Ever since we opened, there has been an explosion of local surf businesses and young up and coming stars.” But while local surfers and tourism operators benefited, traditional land and sea owners watched from the sidelines as others profited from their waters. Tourism Minister Viliame Gavoka says the proposed repeal, expected to go before Parliament this week, aims to restore Indigenous rights over marine areas and ensure they are compensated for use of their resources. “In place will be a structure designed to liberalise access and ensure resource owners are compensated.” He stresses the replacement law will not return exclusive access to resorts, and public consultation will follow its tabling in Parliament. How compensation will be calculated is still under discussion. “No one will be charging anything that is out of line.” The looming repeal has sparked concern among surf operators and the tourism sector, with both the Fiji Surfing Association and the Fiji Hotels and Tourism Association declining to comment, saying they have yet to see the new legislation. Muller, who has Indigenous heritage and runs a surf business, says traditional owners deserve a fair share. “Our people haven’t been fairly compensated. Surfers come in and chase away the fish. They destroy the reefs. They need to be compensated.” Once public consultations begin, Muller plans to propose the creation of “ocean parks” a model where visitors pay a user fee that funds lifeguards, reef protection, village support and community services. “It is probably the most sensible way where everybody wins. It could be a great model for the rest of the world.” The parliamentary debate this week is expected to set the tone for the future of Fiji’s surf tourism industry and determine how locals, traditional owners and operators will share the ocean’s rewards. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Mataele to strengthen Drua backline – FBC News
Manasa Mataele [Source: Fijian Drua/Facebook] Fijian winger Manasa Mataele has landed into the country and is set to take his place in the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific 2026 season after his inclusion in the Fijian Drua squad was confirmed in June. The 28-year-old, originally from Vanuavatu in Lau with maternal links to Yasawa-i-Rara, brings a decade of top-tier Super Rugby experience back to Fiji. Raised in Raiwai and a product of Marist Brothers High School, Mataele’s rugby foundations were built locally—featuring for Marist in the Deans competition and earning selection for the Fiji under 18 side in 2015. Article continues after advertisement Since leaving Fiji as a teenager, Mataele has carved out an impressive professional record. He has made 58 Super Rugby appearances across three franchises—32 for the Crusaders, 24 for the Western Force and two with the Chiefs—earning a reputation as one of the competition’s most reliable line-breakers. In 2022, he finished second overall in the entire competition for clean breaks and metres gained, underlining his consistency as both a try-scorer and a creator. His return is expected to inject experience and composure into a young Swire Shipping Fijian Drua backline preparing for a landmark 2026 season. Mataele made his Flying Fijians debut in 2021 and has earned four caps to date. He also boasts a strong provincial record in New Zealand, tallying 51 appearances—31 for Canterbury and 20 for Taranaki. The Drua will start off next season against Moana Pasifika on the 14th of February at Churchill Park in Lautoka at 3.30pm. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji, NZ and South Africa in same pool – FBC News
[Source: World Rugby Sevens/Facebook] The Fiji Airways Men’s 7s side will again face South Africa in Cape Town this weekend. Fiji who defeated South Africa 28-10 in Dubai are in the same group again this week. Dubai 7s champions New Zealand and Great Britain are the other teams in pool A with Fiji and South Africa. Article continues after advertisement Australia, France, Spain and Argentina are in Pool B. The Fijiana will meet New Zealand and USA again as they’ve been drawn in group A for Cape Town. Joining them in the pool is Great Britain. The women’s pool B have Australia, Japan, Canada and France. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Bronze for Fiji 7s, Fijiana fourth in Dubai – FBC News
[File Photo] The Fiji Airways Men’s team has settled for bronze in Dubai. The national side defeated France 24-7 in the third-place playoff this morning. Fiji turned the tables on France, who earlier beat them 24-19 in pool play. Article continues after advertisement Vuiviawa Naduvalo continued his fine form in Dubai when he ran in one of their two tries in the first half for a 10-7 lead at half-time. Captain Jerry Matana ran in their first try after the side looked unsettled early in the game. A mistake by France early in the second half saw Terio Tamani sneak in to put the side further in front, 17-7. Manueli Maisamoa sealed the win when he broke through to score after Fiji stole a ball from a French lineout throw. Even the referee was caught in the crossfire when Maisamoa weaved his way through the defense. George Bose’s work rate was on display in the match when he won three successive turnovers in the last three minutes. Fiji went down 24-21 to New Zealand in the semifinal. Meanwhile, our Fijiana finished fourth in Dubai. This follows their 22-11 loss to Japan in the third-place playoff. Japan was leading 17-7 at the break and both sides scored a try each in a tight second half. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fijiana to play Japan third place playoff – FBC News
[File Photo] The Fiji Airways Fijiana will play Japan in the Dubai 7s third-place playoff at 2:35am tomorrow. This was after Fiji lost 31-10 in the semifinal against Australia. Maddison Levi started the campaign going for Australia with a try early in the game before they added another for a 12-nil lead. Article continues after advertisement Asilika Qalo got the Fijiana on the board with a solid run close to the Aussies’ tryline and crashed over for a try. The national team had a chance to draw level before the break but failed to do so. Australia turned defense into attack after chasing down Adita Milinia and caught her close to the tryline but Adi Mereani Rogosau was penalised for not supporting her body weight. The Australians took the tap and ran away to score. Another two Australia tries sealed the win before Vani Buleki scored a consolation for Fiji. The third-place playoff starts at 2:35am and you can watch it live on FBC TV. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji falls in semifinal – FBC News
[File Photo] A new winner will be crowned tomorrow at the Dubai 7s after defending champions the Fiji Airways Men’s 7s side went down 24-21 to New Zealand in the semifinal. New Zealand will play Australia in the final tomorrow morning. Fiji will face France at 3:03am in the third-place playoff. Article continues after advertisement Winger Vuiviawa Naduvalo scored three tries in the semifinal. Naduvalo opened up the defensive line when he made the switch in field and went straight through to score a converted try. The All Blacks 7s cancelled the lead less than a minute later and they went 80 meters with Akuila Rokolisoa finishing it off to lock it up 7-all. Fiji had some possession before halftime but failed to turn it into points while New Zealand, on the other hand, utilized theirs with Rokolisoa setting up Brady Rush for a try to lead 14-7. Dylan Collier was in just after the break, after Sakiusa Siqila failed to tackle Rush from a set piece. Naduvalo got Fiji back into the game with a brilliant team try. The speedster got his hat-trick with less than two minutes to play before Rush scored the winning try. Ilikimi Torosi copped a red card for a dangerous tackle. In another semifinal, Australia defeated France 14-nil. The men’s third-place playoff kicks off at 3:03am The men’s final starts at 4:11am and you can watch it live on FBC TV. You can watch Fiji’s game live on FBC TV. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Fiji chases fourth title in Dubai – FBC News
[Source: Fiji Rugby/Facebook] The Fiji Airways Men’s side is after their fourth Dubai 7s title since the tournament started in 1999. It took Fiji 14 years before they finally lifted their first title in the desert in 2013, they won again two years later and then again last year. South Africa is the most successful side in Dubai with 11 titles followed by New Zealand with six, England four, Fiji three and Samoa on one occasion. Article continues after advertisement Tonight’s semifinal clash with New Zealand will all come down to fitness. Maintaining their fitness during the pre-season was one of the main key areas our national squad members worked on before the Dubai 7s. This is the view of forward Joseva Talacolo after their two wins and a loss in pool play on day one. He says getting those two wins were not easy but he puts it down to fitness. The national side fought bravely against France but time was not on their side as they went down 24-19. Talacolo says last year’s win was special and they’d love to do it again. ‘There are some good memories and we want to maintain those memories this year again.” The national side defeated Argentina 28-19 followed by a 28-10 victory over South Africa before going down to France 24-19 this morning in the final pool match. Fiji will play New Zealand in the second Cup semifinal at 10:28 tonight. Meanwhile, the Fijiana is going meet Australia in the second women’s semifinal at 9:34pm tonight. The Fijiana beat USA 19-7 and then upset France 28-19 but lost 31-12 to New Zealand. You can watch the Fiji 7s and Fijiana games live on FBC TV. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.
Job not done yet says Talacolo – FBC News
[Source: Fiji Rugby/Facebook] Fiji Airways Men’s 7s forward, Joseva Talacolo, is pleading for support and says the job is not done yet for them in Dubai. Talacolo was at his usual best in the three pool games against Argentina, South Africa and France. Speaking after their two wins in group A, Talacolo says they had a good pre-season following some solid work. Article continues after advertisement However, he says as defending champions, they’ll need all the support heading to the semifinals tonight. “I’m pleading to all our families and especially our fans in Fiji, we thank you for your continuous support and prayers. We can feel your support and prayers and they’re something that drives us to deliver which was evident in our two wins, however, the job is not yet done, we’ll look at our weaknesses and shift our focus and prepare for the semifinal tomorrow.” The national side defeated Argentina 28-19 followed by a 28-10 victory over South Africa before going down to France 24-19 this morning in the final pool match. Fiji will play New Zealand in the second Cup semifinal at 10:28 tonight. Meanwhile, the Fijiana is going meet Australia in the second women’s semifinal at 9:34pm tonight. The Fijiana beat USA 19-7 and then upset France 28-19 but lost 31-12 to New Zealand. You can watch the Fiji 7s and Fijiana games live on FBC TV. Stream the best of Fiji on VITI+. Anytime. Anywhere.