Latest news with #MickByrne
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Ex Hurricanes, All Blacks Sevens star Salesi Rayasi in Fiji test squad
Salesi Rayasi attacks for the Hurricanes against the Rebels in a Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinal in Wellington, 8 June, 2024. Photo: Photosport Former All Blacks Sevens and Hurricanes winger Salesi Rayasi has been included in the Fiji test squad after changing allegiance. Wellington-born Rayasi follows in the footsteps of his father Filipe, who played 13 times for Fiji in the 1990s. Rayasi, 28, has been named for Fiji for the first time in a 32-player squad for tests against Australia and Scotland next month. He played 50 games during his six seasons with the Hurricanes before taking up a contract with French club RC Vannes last year. He played in seven tournaments with the All Blacks Sevens between 2018 and 2020. Hawke's Bay halfback Sam Wye, 24, is also named by Fiji for the first time. Fiji coach Mick Byrne promised Australia and Scotland tough tests after naming a strong squad featuring 15 European-based players, Reuters reported. The Pacific islanders will play the Wallabies in Newcastle on 6 July in Australia's only warm-up match for the British & Irish Lions test series before hosting the Scots in Suva the following weekend. "We've announced a squad which is as strong as we're able to select, so that's excellent," Byrne said. "We're really looking forward to going over to Australia and putting on a great performance against the Wallabies and then coming home and playing against Scotland. "Both Australia and Scotland are established tier-one sides, and we know the level we need to rise to. This squad reflects our depth, strength, and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud." Alongside the 10 players who play their club rugby in France and five in England, the 32-man squad features a core of 13 players from the Fijian Drua Super Rugby team. "We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit," Byrne said. "We want to win but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby." Australian Byrne, who coached the Drua until last year, said Fiji's likely inclusion in the Nations Cup meant they needed to start thinking and acting like a tier-one country. "We now need to step up as an organisation and a group of players and address the fact that we are now tier one," he added. Fiji squad: Forwards - Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs - Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi. - RNZ Sport/Reuters
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Fiji name strong squad for Australia and Scotland tests
June 12 (Reuters) - Fiji coach Mick Byrne promised Australia and Scotland tough tests after naming a strong squad featuring 15 European-based players for the July clashes with the tier-one nations on Thursday. The Pacific islanders will play the Wallabies in Newcastle on July 6 in Australia's only warm-up match for the British & Irish Lions test series before hosting the Scots in Suva the following weekend. "We've announced a squad which is as strong as we're able to select, so that's excellent," said Byrne. "We're really looking forward to going over to Australia and putting on a great performance against the Wallabies and then coming home and playing against Scotland. "Both Australia and Scotland are established tier-one sides, and we know the level we need to rise to. This squad reflects our depth, strength, and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud." New Zealand-born former All Blacks sevens winger Salesi Rayasi, who now plays for French club RC Vannes, was included for the first time after switching national allegiance. His father Filipe played 13 times for Fiji in the 1990s. Alongside the 10 players who play their club rugby in France and five in England, the 32-man squad features a core of 13 players from the Fijian Drua Super Rugby team. "We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit," Byrne said. "We want to win – but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby." Australian Byrne, who coached the Drua until last year, said Fiji's likely inclusion in the Nations Cup meant they needed to start thinking and acting like a tier-one country. "We now need to step up as an organisation and a group of players and address the fact that we are now tier one," he added. Fiji squad: Forwards - Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs - Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi.
CNA
2 days ago
- Sport
- CNA
Fiji name strong squad for Australia and Scotland tests
Fiji coach Mick Byrne promised Australia and Scotland tough tests after naming a strong squad featuring 15 European-based players for the July clashes with the tier-one nations on Pacific islanders will play the Wallabies in Newcastle on July 6 in Australia's only warm-up match for the British & Irish Lions test series before hosting the Scots in Suva the following weekend. "We've announced a squad which is as strong as we're able to select, so that's excellent," said Byrne. "We're really looking forward to going over to Australia and putting on a great performance against the Wallabies and then coming home and playing against Scotland. "Both Australia and Scotland are established tier-one sides, and we know the level we need to rise to. This squad reflects our depth, strength, and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud." New Zealand-born former All Blacks sevens winger Salesi Rayasi, who now plays for French club RC Vannes, was included for the first time after switching national allegiance. His father Filipe played 13 times for Fiji in the 1990s. Alongside the 10 players who play their club rugby in France and five in England, the 32-man squad features a core of 13 players from the Fijian Drua Super Rugby team. "We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit," Byrne said. "We want to win – but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby." Australian Byrne, who coached the Drua until last year, said Fiji's likely inclusion in the Nations Cup meant they needed to start thinking and acting like a tier-one country. "We now need to step up as an organisation and a group of players and address the fact that we are now tier one," he added. Forwards - Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs - Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fiji set to challenge Wallabies before Lions series
Fiji are set to provide the Wallabies with a benchmark for their preparations for the British and Irish Lions after the Pacific islanders named a strong squad for their Test match in Newcastle next month. Fiji and Australia will meet on July 6 in Australia's only international before facing the Lions in a three-Test series beginning in Brisbane on July 19. It's the first time the teams have squared off since Fiji shocked the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, breaking a 69-year drought. The Fiji win helped send the Australians crashing out of the tournament at the pool stage. Coach Mick Byrne on Thursday announced a 32-member squad to face the Wallabies and also Scotland in Suva on July 12. While 13 players are from the Fijian Drua, who finished 10th in the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition, Byrne has also selected 10 players based in France and five in England. The backline is set to include European stars such as Josua Tuisova (Racing 92), who scored a try in their World Cup win over Australia, Sireli Maqala (Bayonne) and Salesi Rayasi (Vannes). Former powerhouse NRL winger Semi Radradra, who plays for Lyon, is a notable omission. Veteran forwards Eroni Mawi (Saracens), Samuel Matavesi (Lyon), and Albert Tuisue (Gloucester) bolster a dominant forward pack. Tevita Ikanivere, Caleb Muntz, and Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki are among players named from the Drua after strong Super Rugby performances. "Both Australia and Scotland are established Tier One sides, and we know the level we need to rise to," Byrne said in a statement. "We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit. "We want to win but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby. "This squad reflects the depth, strength, and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud." Fiji squad: Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs: Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Fiji names Salesi Rayasi for Wallabies and Scotland tests
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Former Super Rugby winger Salesi Rayasi has been named in Fiji's 32-man squad to play Australia and Scotland in rugby tests next month. The 28-year-old played six seasons in Super Rugby for the Wellington-based Hurricanes and now plays for Vannes in France's Top 14. He played for the New Zealand sevens team before switching nations to play for Fiji, following his father Felipe who played 13 test for Fiji in the 1990s. Australia's test against Fiji at Newcastle on July 6 will be the Wallabies' only warm-up for their three-test series against the British and Irish Lions. Fiji will then play Scotland in Suva on July 12. 'Both Australia and Scotland are established Tier One sides and we know the level we need to rise to,' Fiji head coach Mick Byrne said in naming his squad Wednesday. 'This squad reflects the depth and strength of Fiji rugby and we will give a performance that will make all Fijians proud.' The Fiji squad included 13 players who played for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby this season and 10 players based in France. 'We've focused on combinations that give us both tactical adaptability and the trademark Fijian spirit,' Byrne said. 'We want to win but more importantly, we want to win playing our brand of rugby.' ___ Fiji squad: Forwards: Eroni Mawi, Luke Tagi, Haereiti Hetet, Mesake Doge, Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere, Samuel Mativesi, Kavaia Tagivetaua, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Setareki Turagacoke, Viliame Mata, Elia Canakaivata, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Albert Tuisue, Etonia Waqa, Motikai Murray. Backs: Simione Kuruvoli, Philip Baselala, Sam Wye, Caleb Muntz, Isaia Armstrong-Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu, Josua Tuisova, Iosefo Masikau Baleiwairiki, Sireli Maqala, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Selesitino Ravutaumada, Salesi Rayasi. ___ AP rugby:
