The FIJI Water Flying Fijians have climbed to ninth place in the World Rugby rankings following their impressive 41-17 win against Japan in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup final. This significant advancement comes after a series of thrilling test matches that captured the attention of a worldwide audience.
Fiji entered the tournament eliminations as the leaders of Pool A, having achieved victories over strong opponents such as Samoa in Suva and Tonga in Nuku’alofa. In the semifinals, they faced a tough challenge from the USA but managed to demonstrate their determination by pulling ahead in the closing moments to secure a place in the championship match against the host team.
Japan, led by renowned coach Eddie Jones, also made considerable progress during the tournament but fell short against a focused Fijian team, which is coached by Mick Byrne. Byrne has highlighted the crucial role of nurturing young talent for the team’s future success.
As a result of Fiji’s rise in the rankings, Australia has been pushed down to the 10th position for the first time, while Argentina has climbed to sixth place. Currently, South Africa sits in second place, with Ireland holding the top spot in the standings.