The Flying Fijians have climbed to 9th place in the latest World Rugby rankings, surpassing Australia. This elevation follows their impressive 41-17 victory over Japan in the Pacific Nations Cup final held in Osaka, Japan, last Saturday night.
Fiji’s success also includes victories against Samoa, Tonga, and the United States. This significant progression comes after a series of thrilling test matches that attracted a global audience across different time zones.
Japan, coached by the renowned Eddie Jones, had shown commendable improvement during the tournament but could not prevail against the resolute Fijian team led by Mick Byrne, who stressed the importance of nurturing young talents for the future.
Byrne expressed the potential of the tournament, 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.”
The victory reinforces Fiji’s promise, with Byrne noting that many squad members are still 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 remarked.
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s ascent pushes Australia down to 10th for the first time, while Argentina rises to 6th. South Africa is now positioned in second place, with Ireland remaining at the top of the rankings.