The Flying Fijians have climbed to 9th place in the latest World Rugby rankings, surpassing Australia. This advancement follows their impressive 41-17 victory against Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final held in Osaka last Saturday night.
Fiji’s success also included victories over Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This ranking boost is a result of a series of thrilling test matches that engaged a global audience across multiple time zones.
Japan, coached by the renowned Eddie Jones, made significant progress in the tournament but was unable to overcome a focused Fijian team led by coach Mick Byrne. Byrne stressed the importance of nurturing young talent for future success.
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 highlights Fiji’s potential, with Byrne noting that numerous squad members are still in the early phases of 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 remarked.
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s rise has pushed Australia to 10th place for the first time, while Argentina has moved up to 6th. South Africa currently ranks second, and Ireland remains at the top of the standings.