Fiji leads in touch rugby mixed team competition

Fiji was leading the score table at the end of day one of the Sol2023 Pacific Games touch rugby mixed team event at DC Park on Thursday.

In Thursday’s round-robin play-offs, Fiji looked promising to vie for gold, as they won two of their matches, first overcoming Samoa 9-7, followed by Solomon Islands 9-4, and then a tie with Niue 3-3.

Fiji came fourth in mixed touch rugby at the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, losing the bronze medal match to Cook Islands, but are hopeful of reaching the podium at Sol2023, having won bronze in both the men’s and women’s tournaments on Wednesday.

Fiji team manager Vamosi Revoni told the Pacific Games News Service: “We learnt from the first tournaments and will aim higher.”

Defending champions Papua New Guinea (PNG) also had a tough run on Thursday, winning two matches against Niue and Solomon Islands, but losing their last match of the day 9-3 against a strong Cook Islands team.

Niue is also a contender, as they held off Fiji in the morning match until the final whistle.

The president and head coach of Niue Touch Rugby, Jason Silimaka, revealed their mixed team’s composition.

“We have very young players, most 15 and 16 years old, and they are doing really well. I am so proud of their performance,” he told the Pacific Games News Service.

The round robin matches continue at DC Park on Friday ahead of Saturday’s medal matches. Entry is free.

By Arnold Peter and Glen Deni, Pacific Games News Service