The Flying Fijians have ascended to 9th place in the latest World Rugby rankings, overtaking Australia. This change follows their impressive 41-17 victory over Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final held in Osaka, Japan, last Saturday night.
Fiji also achieved victories against Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This upward movement in the rankings is a result of a series of thrilling test matches that have garnered global attention across different time zones.
Japan, coached by the renowned Eddie Jones, showed promise throughout the tournament but could not contend with the fierce Fijian team, which is guided by Mick Byrne. Byrne has underscored the importance of nurturing young talent for the future of the sport.
Byrne highlighted the opportunity the tournament provided, stating, “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 reinforces Fiji’s potential as Byrne noted that many squad members are still at the beginning of their professional journeys. “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 commented.
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s advancement results in Australia slipping to 10th place for the first time, while Argentina moves up to 6th. South Africa now holds the second spot, with Ireland remaining at the top of the standings.