The Flying Fijians have ascended to the 9th position in the latest World Rugby rankings, overtaking Australia following their impressive 41-17 victory against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final held in Osaka last Saturday.
Fiji’s success in the tournament also included victories over Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This notable advancement comes after a series of thrilling test matches that have drawn interest from a worldwide audience.
Japan, guided by renowned coach Eddie Jones, demonstrated significant improvement throughout the tournament but ultimately could not match the determination of the Fijian team, which is led by coach Mick Byrne. Byrne emphasized the tournament’s role in identifying and nurturing young talent for the future.
Byrne stated, “It’s a great opportunity for us in the PNC to select a good bunch of young players. We know there were some great senior players that did a good job during the World Cup last year, and over the course of the next few years, some of those players will be replaced.”
This victory solidifies Fiji’s potential as many squad members are still relatively early in their professional careers. “The sooner we can get them in the test arena, the better it is for the future of the team and for Fiji Rugby,” he noted.
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s gain has pushed Australia down to 10th place for the first time, while Argentina has moved up to 6th. South Africa now holds the second position, with Ireland remaining at the top of the rankings.