The Flying Fijians have climbed to 9th place in the latest World Rugby rankings, overtaking Australia. This advancement follows their impressive 41-17 victory over Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup grand final held in Osaka last Saturday night.
In addition to their triumph over Japan, the Fijians also secured wins against Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This upward movement in the rankings comes after a series of thrilling test matches that engaged a worldwide audience.
Japan, coached by the renowned Eddie Jones, made noteworthy progress throughout the tournament, but ultimately fell short against a resolute Fijian team. Mick Byrne, the Fijians’ coach, stressed the significance of nurturing young talent for the future of Fiji Rugby.
Byrne remarked on the tournament’s potential by saying, “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 next few years, some of those players will be replaced.”
The victory showcases Fiji’s potential, with Byrne pointing out that many players are still early in their professional journeys. He emphasized, “The sooner we can get them in the test arena, the better it is for the future of the team and for Fiji Rugby.”
The updated World Rankings reflect Fiji’s ascent, which has resulted in Australia dropping to 10th place for the first time. Meanwhile, Argentina has risen to 6th, while South Africa now holds the second position, with Ireland sitting atop the rankings.