Island Rivalry Rekindled as International Rugby Returns to Apia Park

Form and rankings usually got out the window when the Pacific’s top ranked island nations Fiji, Samoa and Tonga do battle. Any one of those teams can topple each other on any given day and that is part of the intrigue and mystique behind these traditional rivalries that date back to 1924, when Western Samoa played its first official international against Fiji in Apia, and many hundreds of years before that, outside of rugby.

The Pacific Tri Nations established in 1982 helped to set up a regular test schedule between Samoa, Fiji and Ton- ga, and the set up of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance in 2002 formalised that cooperation. In 2006, the Pacific Tri Nations was replaced by the Pacific Five Nations, which was renamed the Pacific Nations Cup – the current format used.

That rivalry continues today as international rugby returns to Apia Park with local fans in for a treat as the Flying Fijians seek a return to winning ways, while Manu Samoa will look to kick off their Rugby World Cup preparations in style in front of their home fans.
The ‘Flying Fijians’ have really come on as an interna- tional rugby nation in recent years improving their set piece, playing more structured rugby, and possessing one of the most lethal backlines in world rugby. The impact of having so many of their stars in Europe’s top clubs and competitions, plus the recent successes of Fijian Drua in Super Rugby Pacific has created more depth and talent to their playing ranks.

However, the Fijians will be determined to get back to winning ways after only managing just one win in 2022 over Tonga. Fiji is coming off losses to Ireland 17-35 and Scotland 12-28 during last year’s Autumn Nations Series, going down in two friendly games against the All Blacks, 13-60 in Hamilton and 23-57 in Dunedin, and losses to Australia A and Manu Samoa in the 2022 Pacific Na- tions Cup. They are back to near full strength in World Cup year, however, and will be much more formidable opponents.

Today’s test match against Manu Samoa in Apia Park
is significant as the Fijians will be keen to avenge their defeat to Manu Samoa in last year’s Pacific Nations Cup thriller where Manu Samoa prevailed with a narrow 23- 20 victory at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Fiji had started last year’s Pacific Nations Cup campaign in style thump-

ing a star-studded Tonga 36-0 in Suva. But they weren’t able to back up the result against Australia A, losing 32-18 in Lautoka and against Manu Samoa in the tourna- ment finale.

For Manu Samoa, beating Fiji in 2022 gave them their first Pacific Nations Cup title since 2014. Fiji had won the PNC four times in a row from 2015-2018 before Japan claimed the title in 2019. The result was particu- larly impressive having come back from a 3-17 halftime deficit to run in two second half tries to claim a famous late victory.

Overall, Manu Samoa and the Flying Fijians have clashed 54 times since 1924 with Fiji enjoying a higher win ratio with 30 wins (55%) while Samoa has won 21 times (39%), with 3 draws between the sides.

Head-to-Head – Samoa vs Fiji:

• Samoa and Fiji have played 54 times
• Fiji has won 30 times while Samoa has won 21 times
• Both sides have drawn 3 times
• Fiji’s biggest winning margin is 60 which they achieved in 1996
• Samoa’s biggest winning margin is 26 which was achieved in 2005
• Samoa played its official international game against Fiji in 1924 in Apia
• Fiji and Samoa have only met once at the World Cup in 2011 when Samoa won 27-7 at Eden Park, Auckland in front of a record crowd.

Recent Results:

2022 Fiji 20-23 Samoa
2019 Fiji 10-3 Samoa
2018 Fiji 24-22 Samoa
2017 Fiji 38-16 Samoa
2017 Fiji 26-16 Samoa
2015 Fiji 30-30 Samoa
2014 Fiji 13-18 Samoa
2012 Fiji 26-29 Samoa
2011 Fiji 7-27 Samoa
2011 Fiji 36-18 Samoa
2010 Fiji 9-31 Samoa