The Flying Fijians lost their opening game of the Nations Championship on Sunday morning, going down 39-24 to Wales in Cardiff.
Having clawed their way back to hold Wales at 10-all at halftime, the Pacific Islanders could not contain the Welsh Dragons, who secured their second consecutive victory, following a 33-31 win over the Barbarians a week earlier.
But there were celebrations in Apia and Nuku’alofa as both Manu Samoa and ‘Ikale Tahi claimed wins in their opening matches of the new World Rugby Nations Cup competition.
Samoa thrashed Hong Kong China 66-19 on Sunday morning as well in Santiago, Chile. Hours later, the Tongans followed suit with their own victory, subduing a stubborn Zimbabwe team to win 36-26 after an 80-minute battle.
Mistakes
Flying Fijians head coach Senirusi Seruvakula told the media after the game Wales unsettled them and deserved the win, but also pointed to his team’s own mistakes and over-eagerness.
Playing open rugby cost them the win as well, especially when players forgot about structure and over-played the ball, losing possession at critical times during the clash.
“We had a lot of opportunity in the first half,” Seruvakula said.
“We thought that we were in on a roll but some areas we were careless, we were pushing the pass that cost us the penalties and deny our opportunity to score also.
“Full credit to the Wales team, they deserve that win, but we were unsettled at times, and it was very disappointing.
“We thought that the second half we’re gonna go and play the way we wanted, but did not go our way.”
Moving his focus to the next game against England this weekend, Seruvakula said they will need to improve on key areas they have identified, which included winning the collisions, controlling the set pieces and finishing off opportunities.
He said open rugby with the Fijian flair is what they want to play but that must come with control as well.
“That’s the way that we wanted to play, that’s our brand of rugby,” he said.
“We trained for that in the week, but, like I said, we sometimes really pushed it, those passes that cost us.
“We encourage the play, but the players have to be smart in doing it.
“In our red zone we don’t have to do that, but in our half that’s safe, we can do that. We just need to be smart in doing our style of rugby in those areas.”
Captain Tevita Ikanivere echoed his coach’s comments, pointing to the need to have the balance between open play and structured rugby.
“We want to play a brand of rugby that we want, but I think we need to find the balance, especially when we get into our score zone,” he said.
“When the game slows down, I think we have to be patient. I think once we find that balance, it’s going to be great for us as a team, and we’ll start getting our wins.”
He is confident the team will bounce back to prepare for England, who also lost their opening match to South Africa at the weekend.
The Fijians will now be without veteran utility back Semi Radradra who was injured during the game. Virimi Vakatawa and Luke Tagi have joined the squad as replacements.
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Samoa run riot in Santiago
IN Santiago, Chile, Manu Samoa turned on the heat against Hong Kong China to claim a big 66-19 win in the opening round of the Nations Cup.
Hong Kong China is one of the new teams to make it into the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
They were put under the test from the opening minute as Manu Samoa, who the weekend earlier had defeated Chile in a friendly international, went to work early.
The Samoans scored two minutes into the game through winger Tuna Tuitama and they were unrelenting in their pursuit of the try-line from then on.
Quick hands and deadly breaks made it a tough day for the Hong Kong China defence, and the joy was seen on the Samoan faces as they scored try after try.
Debutant, winger Warren Solomona, was the standout for the Samoans, as he time and time again carved his way through defenders and scored two tries, one of notable class in the first half.
Hong Kong China were in the game, as their first attack saw them rewarded with a penalty try, and despite being down 38-7 at half-time, they came out strong in the second half, scoring back-to-back tries.
For the last 20 minutes, Manu Samoa were masterful, capped off with some lovely footballing skills by Elisapeta Alofipo, who bagged a brace in the last few minutes.
It was an emphatic win for Manu Samoa in the end, but there is no doubt that Hong Kong China will be better for the experience.
Manu Samoa head coach Leamanu Tusi Pisi said he is using the competition to test out players who have put their hands up to represent the Manus.
Captain Miracle Fai’ilagi said the win was well-deserved and the players stood up to the test and looks forward to the rest of the competition.
“We have a group of players, mixture of good players with a lot of guys coming in for their first caps and a lot of experienced hands,” the 2026 Moana Pasifika team captain said.
“Good effort today from the boys. Good win and sets the momentum for the rest of the games.
“Hong Kong was tough and we kind of lost our way in the first 20 minutes of the second half.”
Two wins in two weekends is a big improvement from their 2025 world cup qualifier campaign where they struggled and almost missed out of qualifying for Australia.
Manu samoa scored tries through doubles from Solomona and Alofipo, while Tuitama, Aki Seiuli, captain Miracle Faiilagi, Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, Iakopo Petelo-Mapu and Connor Tupai added one each.
AJ Alatimu added eight conversions for a personal tally of 16 points in the game.
Hong Kong China got tries through Marcus Ramage and Harry Sayers, with a penalty try added to their tally, while Paul Altier added a conversion.
Manu Samoa will face Georgia while Hong Kong China takes on Chile in round 2 this coming weekend.
Godfrey Muzanargwo #5 of Zimbabwe catches a line out during the first half against Tonga at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on 4 July 2026 in Commerce City, Colorado.
C Morgan Engel / World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
Tonga downs Zimbabwe
In Denver, Colorado, Tonga came back from behind to beat Zimbabwe 36-26 on Sunday morning.
Head coach Tevita Tuifu’a was happy with the team’s performance, especially their resilience and spirit to fight back and take the game in the end.
“We got what we needed, not what we wanted,” he said.
“The players showed a lot of resilience to fight back and claim the win.
“Zimbabwe were tough, the did not give up and they rattled us.
“But composure and working together got us through.”
Tuifu’a said it was a much needed first Test for the season, thanking the players for standing up to the challenge.
Captain, veteran halfback Sonatane Takulua, led the team well and directed play, linking well with flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini.
Fullback William Havili was also a standout and the forward pack got it done, winning the collisions when needed.
Moli brothers Samiuela and Atu combined well upfront.
Tonga and Zimbabwe are in Pool F of the RWC 2027 and the clash on Sunday was the perfect beginning to this two-part saga which will conclude in Queensland next year.
The first 23 minutes went scoreless as both teams showed nervousness, losing the ball at critical moments.
But eventually a lovely looping pass from Pellegrini to winger Telusa Veainu broke the deadlock before loose-head prop Fatongia Paea dived over with a clever finish after good Tongan forward pack control.
However, the Sables finally responded, and Matthew Mandioma finished off from a maul as Zimbabwe started clawing their way back into the game.
Despite being reduced to 14 men when Veaiunu was sent off for 10 minutes on a yellow card, Tonga struck back with centre Fine Inisi stretching out to score despite Zimbabwe defenders hanging on to him.
Zimbabwe came alive in the second half, with 22-year-old Edward Sigauke setting the game alive with his skills.
He dazzled the Denver crowd with his dancing feet.
He first brilliantly set up Tino Mavesere after carving through the Tongan defence. Ten minutes later, after a brilliant dummy from Matthew Mandioma, Sigauke received the ball in space and from then only one outcome was inevitable, finishing off over the tryline.
Man mountain of Godfrey Muzanargwo also scored an exceptional try in the corner for Zimbabwe.
Tonga had some worrying moments when Pellegrini was sin-binned, however, in the space of four minutes the physicality up front proved too much, and the Friendly Islanders scored two tries to do enough to earn a hard-fought win.
Try scorers for Tonga were Veainu, Fatongia Paea, Fine Inisi, Sam Moli and Sione Tuipolotu.
Pellegrini added three conversions and a penalty while Havili also slotted a conversion in.
Zimbabwe got four tries through Mandioma, Mavesere, Muzanargwo and Sigauke, with three conversions from Ian Prior.
Tonga is set to meet Sain next while Zimbabwe has a date with USA.
Other results from the Nations Cup: Chile 48 Romania 31, Georgia 41 Uruguay 34, USA 30 Portugal 29, Canada 42 Spain 42.
Nations Championship results: South Africa proved too strong for England 45-21, Japan defeated Italy 27-10, and Ireland pipped Australia 33-31 and New Zealand beat France 34-32.
