Premiership/URC
The Gallagher Premiership is the premier rugby competition in England, featuring 10 clubs. It features a total of 14 players of Fijian heritage or nationality.
The United Rugby Championship is a tier 1 rugby competition featuring the top clubs from Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Italy and South Africa. 6 players of Fijian heritage or Nationality are rostered amongst its 16 teams.
Cokanasiga ends drought as Bath beat Bristol
Joe Cokanasiga ended his tryless start to the season when he dotted down for Bath in the 63rd minute of their big win over Bristol 40-15.
It was billed as a top 4 clash and it lived up to it, with the game remaining close for much of the contest. Bath were on the backfoot early with Bristol scoring in the opening minute through Kalaveti Ravouvou.
Bath led 26-15 at the 80th minute mark but the game didn't end for another 10 minutes, the home side scoring twice to blow the score out.
Ravouvou double in Bears win over Gloucester
Bristol won their 3rd from 4 matches to start the Premiership season, this time beating Gloucester 49-34.
Winger Kalaveti Ravouvou scored 2 tries and Number 8 Viliame Mata also got across the line for the Bears.
Mata set up Ravouvou's first try in the 71st minute, a Sevens style offload for his winger who beat a couple of defenders to finish off a superb try.
Ravouou would score again minutes later after chasing through a kick in the 76th minute.
The Bears move into the top 4 following the win.
Bristol shock competition with 18-14 win over Exeter
Bristol shocked the competition with a gutsy and gritty win over the much fancied Exeter.
Better known for their flair and attacking brilliance, the Bears showed a side to them that was not believed to be in their DNA - pure defensive resilience.
Viliame Mata scored their opening try in the 25th minute. He beat the initial 2 defenders before running the best part of 50 metres untouched.
In the closing 15 minutes, the home side defended their line as the Chiefs tried desperately to score what would have been a go-ahead score, instead denied time and time again by a resolute Bristol defence.
Head Coach Pat Lam called it "the proudest I have ever been" post game.
Sela scores first Premiership try
Bath Prop Billy Sela scored his first Premiership Rugby try in Bath's season opening game against Harlequins.
The England U20 rep powered over from close range in the 33rd minute as the visitors mounted a comeback after trailing early in the first half.
In other Premiership news, Eroni Mawi came off the bench in Saracens 39-17 win over the Newcastle Red Bulls while Kalaveti Ravouvou and Viliame Mata have both been named on the Bristol bench for their match against Leicester.
Bath take Premiership
Bath have won the Gallagher Premiership final, beating Leicester in a tense and exciting match 23-21. The Tigers scored 3 tries to Bath's 2 but it wasn't enough in the end. Joe Cokanasiga wins his first title while Ben Volavola didn't take the field for Leicester.
Volavola named in Final lineup
Ben Volavola has been named on the bench for Leicester in the Premiership final against Bath. The former Flying Fijians pivot set up a crucial try for the Tigers in last weekend's Semi Final when he found a flying Izaia Perese who took it 40 metres to score.
For Bath, hot favourites coming into the match, Joe Cokanasiga has been named on the right wing.
Tuisue joins Provence
Flying Fijians backrower Albert Tuisue will join Provence in the Pro D2 next season, leaving Gloucester after 3 years. Tuisue is due to join the Fiji test camp for their upcoming tests against the Wallabies and Scotland. See all transfers
Player Updates
La Rochelle suffered their first home defeat of the season, a close fought 19-17 loss to Castres.
Levani Botia returned to the starting side after coming off the bench in their last 3 games. The night didn’t start off too well for him, giving away 3 penalties inside the first 23 minutes through untidy work at the ruck although he was wrongfully pinged on a perfect turnover on his 3rd attempt.
Was probably a little lucky to avoid a yellow card for high contact, albeit on a falling player.
Still he was amongst La Rochelle’s best if not their best, making a game high 18 carries for 38 metres while defensively making 7 tackles, 1 dominant tackle and 1 turnover won.
Despite being one of the veterans of the side, Botia is still churning out effective 80 minute performances.
Mosese Dawai starred in a high-scoring 50-28 victory for Mont de Marsan over Agen. He demonstrated his power on the right wing by resisting a couple of defenders to score his first try, before finishing off clinical backline work to cross for a second. The winger finished the day with 81 metres from 7 carries, featuring 2 linebreaks and 3 defenders beaten.
Bay of Plenty returned to the winners circle with a big win on the road against Manawatu 55-19.
Veveni Lasaqa started on the bench for the Steamers and was injected into the match in the final 20 with the game firmly in the bag.
They (Steamers) move into 4th position, this their 5th win over the season and host Waikato in a crucial must-win game next weekend.
Asaeli Pacolo Gade has been named to start on the wing for Montauban in their road game against Montpellier tomorrow morning (FJT).
The former Fiji U20 rep has played 2 matches for Montauban’s senior side in the Challenge Cup, against Zebre in December where he scored a try and against Connacht in January where he earned a yellow card.
The 19 year old comes highly rated and will get his first opportunity to impress in the absence of Josua Vici.
Racing 92 suffered their worst defeat since round 1, losing 33-6 to La Rochelle and failing to score a try.
Nathan Hughes started at Number 8 and to be fair was one of their best. He was strong with his carries, bumping off defenders on a couple of his runs whilst also being a rock defensively. Stopped Will Skelton in his tracks close to the tryline in the first half but the home side still scored off the next carry.
Made the most carries for his side with 14, 9 tackles defensively with a dominant tackle and turnover thrown in.
