The Flying Fijians have risen to ninth place in the latest World Rugby rankings, overtaking Australia. This advancement follows their impressive 41-17 victory over Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final held in Osaka last Saturday night.
Fiji’s success in the tournament is underscored by their previous wins against Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This significant ascent comes after a series of thrilling test matches that engaged fans worldwide.
Japan, spearheaded by renowned coach Eddie Jones, made notable progress in the competition but was ultimately outmatched by a resolute Fijian team led by Mick Byrne. Byrne emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent for the future.
He 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 last year’s World Cup, and over the next few years, some of those players will be replaced.”
The victory highlights Fiji’s promising future, with Byrne noting that many players are still relatively early in 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 added.
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s rise has pushed Australia to tenth place for the first time, while Argentina moves up to sixth. South Africa is now in second place, with Ireland holding the top position.