The 2025 Fiji Cup kicked off with great excitement at Lawaqa Park yesterday, featuring a thrilling day of touch rugby. Tournament director Harley Wall expressed his enthusiasm for the opening rounds, highlighting the impressive preparation of the teams participating this year.
“We’re thrilled to welcome some of the biggest teams in the world to the Fiji Cup,” Wall remarked, expressing his admiration for the increasing number of competitors. This year, a record of 34 teams are competing, with a strong presence from New Zealand and Australia. Notably, a team from the USA has joined the tournament for the first time, marking a significant milestone.
Assistant Tournament Director Nanise Tikoicina shared her excitement about the intensity of the competition demonstrated on the first day. “The level of play was fantastic; you could really feel the competitive spirit,” she noted.
In the Open Men’s category, the results from the matches were highly competitive. In Section A, Wairere secured a dominant victory over Island Time, winning 11-0, and then defeated Koroturaga 9-3. AZ1 also had a close match against Koroturaga, edging them out 5-4. Wairere continued their strong performance with a 12-1 victory over AZ1, while Island Time and Koroturaga ended their match with a draw of 7-7.
Meanwhile, in Section B, Elementz showcased their skills with an impressive 7-1 win against Waqavuka. Bolts, facing newcomers VT Bears, managed a 6-4 victory. Elementz continued their strong performance by defeating Bolts 5-0 and VT Bears 6-1. The last matches featured Bolts narrowly beating Waqavuka 4-3 and a draw between Waqavuka and VT Bears at 3-3.
The tournament promises more action today with the finals taking place across various categories, continuing to foster community spirit and enthusiasm for touch rugby in Fiji. The growing interest in touch rugby through events like the Fiji Cup not only highlights local talent but also enhances sports tourism, further solidifying Fiji as a premier destination for international sporting events.
As anticipation builds for today’s finals, the positive atmosphere surrounding the tournament showcases the vibrant culture of rugby in Fiji, with hopes for more exciting moments in the days ahead.
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