The Flying Fijians have ascended 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 final held in Osaka, Japan, on Saturday night.
Fiji also triumphed over Samoa, Tonga, and the United States during the tournament. This significant movement in the rankings is a result of a series of thrilling test matches that engaged fans worldwide.
Japan, led by renowned coach Eddie Jones, made notable progress in the competition but could not match the tenacity of the Fijian team, which is coached by Mick Byrne. Byrne emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent for the future.
Byrne noted, “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 performed well during last year’s World Cup, and over the next few years, some of those players will need to be replaced.”
The victory underscores Fiji’s potential, as Byrne pointed out that many players in the squad are still early in their professional careers. He stated, “The sooner we can get them in the test arena, the better it is for the future of the team and for Fiji Rugby.”
In the updated World Rankings, Fiji’s rise has pushed Australia down to 10th place for the first time, while Argentina has moved up to 6th. South Africa currently occupies the second position, with Ireland at the top of the rankings.