World Rugby has reinstated the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) as a member of the governing body’s council almost 15 months after it was suspended over “governance challenges”.

The decision was confirmed by the World Rugby Executive Board meeting at the end of last month.

“Fiji has been reinstated to the World Rugby Council with immediate effect, following the Board’s approval of the Fiji Oversight Committee’s recommendation to reinstate the Union,” World Rugby wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

“This follows the adoption of a new constitution and governance structure in line with the necessary roadmap outlined in May 2023,” it added.

The FRU was removed from the council last year, following a takeover by the coalition government, which appointed an interim board to establish a new constitution and system.

“The FRU will continue to work hard to uphold the values ​​and standards expected of World Rugby,” the federation said in a statement on Wednesday.

FRU interim board chair Peter Mazey said they are delighted with the news.

“We are incredibly grateful for the support from World Rugby and the commitment shown by our stakeholders during this process,” Mazey said.

“The adoption of our new constitution and governance framework is testament to our commitment to moving Fiji Rugby forward. This reinstatement is not only a victory for our union but for all our players, coaches and fans who have stood by us over this period.

He said it will allow the federation “to strengthen our ties within the global rugby community and to continue our mission to develop the game of rugby in Fiji”.

The FRU is looking forward to working with the World Rugby Council members, he said.

The FRU will now nominate its representative to the World Rugby Council, which will be required to be vetted in accordance with the World Rugby Integrity Code.

The next step for FRU now is also to call the annual general meeting, where elections for a new board will take place, which is done by union members from all over the country.

The news comes as the Flying Fijians prepare for the defense of the Pacific Nations Cup title they won last year.

Flying Fijians without foreign-based players

Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne announced his squad on Tuesday, without their big players.

Sstar players like Semi Radradra, Waisea Nayacalevu and Josua Tuisova will not feature in the competition.

“Yes, there are a number of our overseas players, this is the first time they don’t have rugby on their plates,” he told a media conference on Tuesday.

“A number of our players have personal and family issues to deal with. As you will understand, a number of our overseas-based players returned straight to their clubs after the Rugby World Cup.

“They finished with the All Blacks Test and we look forward to welcoming them back in November.”

Nayacalevu has switched clubs from France to England, as number eight Viliame Mata.

Byrne has instead selected some new faces, who will join the Fijian Drua players in his squad.

Six new players are in the 30-man squad.

They are Kavaia Tagivetaua, Adrea Cocagi, Vuate Karawalevu, who also join Fijian Drua players Mesake Vocevoce, Apisalome Vota and Epeli Momo.

Byrne said the six have proven themselves and warrant call-ups to the national team.

He said with the Rugby World Cup in 2027, there are just over three years left to breed new players and test them, especially when overseas-based representatives are not available.

With Manu Samoa as their first PNC opponent in Suva on August 23, Byrne said match fitness is something they will need to work on.

He said they will need to build on that as they go through the season, with the benchmarks set by top-tier teams such as the All Blacks, Argentina and Springboks, all of whom played Test matches last weekend.

“That’s the benchmark we want to achieve,” he said, referring to how those teams handled their player fitness.

He said camping out six days from their first PNC game won’t give them enough time to work on match fitness.

But he is confident that the coaching staff will get through with the players.

Having played three games in July, including against the All Blacks, he said players who were on tour then know what is required of them.

They start camp on Saturday.

“Players from overseas will fly in on Friday and our first day in camp will be Saturday where we will get all our administration work done, medical checks done, our S&C tests done and our kit allocations and then our first training session on Sunday afternoon, he tells the media.

Drua’s vice-captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere will be the league captain.

Byrne said Ikanivere has proven himself and continues to grow in his leadership role.

On why Drua captain Meli Derenalagi was not considered to captain the team, Byrne said the former Queen Victoria School player has been relieved of the role so he can focus on his game.

They face Manu Samoa at the HFC Bank Stadium on August 23 at 6pm.

Tonga names young squad

In a similar situation, ‘Ikale Tahi have also fielded a young team made up of local and New Zealand-based players.

Star players such as Moana Pasifika duo Sione Havili Talitui and William Havili, Europe-based number eight Vaea Fifita and center Malakai Fekitoa have all missed out.

The squad named by head coach Tevita Tuifua and assistant Nili Latu has heavyweights Ben Tameifuna, Tau Koloatangi, Lotu Inisi, Fine Inisi, Fetuli Paea and Patrick Pellegrini as experienced hands.

Tuifua said many of their key players were unavailable, as TRU is also looking at developing players for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

He said the players will gather in Nuku’alofa to start camp on August 19, before traveling to Apia for their August 30 date with Manu Samoa.

Manu Samoa, under new coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger, have been preparing in Apia for the past two weeks.

They travel to Suva next week to face Fiji on August 23.

WC expansion

Meanwhile, 24 teams in Rugby Australia 2027 will compete, four more than the 20 that contested France 2023.

Fiji have already qualified as one of the 12 teams that have secured their places.

Both Manu Samoa and ‘Ikale Tahi will compete for their places at the event.

Good news for them is that the top three teams, apart from Fiji and Japan, will qualify for the world meet from the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup series.

The sixth placed team will also get the chance to qualify through the repecharge system.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, “this qualification process is on the side of growth and sustainability for the game as a whole”.

“We are fully committed to respecting the fundamental principle of widening opportunities, and the mix of existing regional competitions, new cross-regional competitions and a final qualification process reflects that ambition as well as the desire to deliver teams on merit.

“Providing certainty to unions in pursuit of the Australian dream will help teams fine-tune their preparations and give fans an exciting path to next year’s Rugby World Cup 2027 where all places will be up for grabs.

“It is our desire that the process will qualify teams for the first iteration of the Nations Championship Division 2, starting in 2026. This has the great benefit of ensuring that all teams will have strong, high-level competition and preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, raises the standard globally.”

World Rugby said the redefined process follows extensive consultation with World Rugby’s six regional associations and is supported by the World Rugby Council’s decision in October 2023 to expand the tournament from 20 to 24 teams, reflecting the sport’s mission to drive global growth.

World Rugby said that with all qualification to be completed by the end of 2025, a first for the men’s Rugby World Cup, all teams will be known before the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw takes place ahead of the men’s Six Nations in 2026.

The new format will feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added before the quarter-finals. This allows the tournament window to be reduced from seven to six weeks.