French_Polynesia_national_rugby_union_team

Tahiti national rugby union team

Tahiti national rugby union team

Tahiti national rugby union team

The Tahiti national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union team, representing the island of Tahiti in French Polynesia, an overseas collectivity of France. They first played in 1971 and have played numerous games to date, most against rivals Cook Islands and several against Niue. Other games have been played against Samoa, Wallis and Futuna, Papua New Guinea and Tonga. France played a match against Tahiti at the end of their 1979 tour and won 92–12.[1] Plans to have annual "test" match series against Pacific island neighbours, New Caledonia have been put on hold, due to time, availability, finances, and coaching and refereeing resources. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Tahiti is administered by the Fédération Tahitienne de Rugby de Polynésie Française. Currently, players who have represented or played for the Tahiti national rugby team, are eligible to represent France. However, playing at a professional level can only enable this. At present there are several Tahitian professional rugby players abroad in France's Top 14 and Pro D2 professional competition.

Quick Facts Nickname(s), Union ...

History

Rugby is greatly growing in popularity in Tahiti, but the national sport still remains soccer.

Rugby came to Tahiti via three separate streams, firstly, through the visits of British, New Zealand and Australian sailors; secondly, through the French presence (many of the main teams are still French military); and thirdly through contact with neighbouring Pacific islands, where the game is popular.[2]

Tahiti first played the game in 1971.

It was founded in 1989 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1994.

It is also a full member of Oceania Rugby, which is the governing body for rugby union in Oceania.

Up to 2003, Tahiti played in international rugby sevens (Pacific Games) and XV-a-side, in the qualifying rounds for the Rugby World Cup.[3]

In 2006, there were fourteen clubs in the national championship and two divisions.[3] There were also sevens competitions, women's rugby, and under-18 rugby competitions as well.[3]

In 2017 Tahiti won the Oceania Rugby Cup, beating their rivals Cook Islands at BCI Stadium in Rarotonga, Cook Islands by a score of 13–9.

Uniform and colors

Tahiti's kit are typically All red with white tribal, designs, etc. They also can be seen using a white jersey with red tribal, designs, etc. In the past they have used all white kits with red as their secondary color, and also Red jersey with the Tahitian flag colors and black shorts.

Kit providers

More information Year, Kit Manufacturer ...

Home grounds

Tahiti have played most of their home matches at Stade Pater Te Hono Nui and Stade Fautaua.

Tahiti has also hosted matches for numerous Pacific Games and Oceania Cup. They share these venues with the Tahiti national football team and club sides from both rugby and football.

Annually Tahiti hosts the Papeete International Sevens Tournament.

Record

Oceania Cup

Tahiti competes in the Oceania Cup which is played against seven other Pacific nations: American Samoa, Cook Islands, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Tahiti has competed in the very first Oceania Cup when it was created in 1997. Since 2015, Tahiti has played 4 matches against: Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, American Samoa and Cook Islands recording a record of 3 wins and 1 loss. Their only loss was to 2015 Oceania Cup Champions Papua New Guinea, and until this date, it has been their only loss since then. They placed second in the standings table and were Runner-up in the tournament. In 2017 they won the Oceania Cup beating their rival Cook Islands in the 2017 Oceania Cup Championship by a score of 9–13 in Avarua, Cook Islands.

Oceania tournaments

More information Year, Winner ...

Oceania Cup

More information Year, Winner ...

Notes:

* Part of the Rugby World Cup qualification process.
† The final of the 2007 tournament was not held until April 2008. Starting from 2009, the tournament has been held biennially.

Rugby World Cup

More information World Cup record, Year ...

Overall

Tahiti are currently ranked 84th on the World Rugby Rankings table.[19]

More information Against, Played ...

Players

Tahiti Nui XV "Aito"

Head coach: Samoa Romi Ropati

More information Player, Position ...

Notable players

More information Player, Notability ...

Vakatini Atuahiva (JJ) Played for Counties Manukau Steeelers NZ 1982, 1991–1995: Manawatu 1984–1990 NZ:, NZ All Black Colts 1982 & 1984:

NZ Divisional XV 1993: NZ Maori All Black 1994: Cook Island 7s and XV

Guest players

These players were capped for Tahiti in an invitational match against France to celebrate Bastille Day in Papeete on 14 July 1981:

See also

References

  1. [1]
    • Vivian Jenkins, ed. (1980). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1980–81. Queen Anne Press. p. 38. ISBN 0-362-02018-3.
  2. [2]
    Richard Bath, ed. (1997). The Complete Book of Rugby. Seven Oaks Ltd. p. 75. ISBN 1-86200-013-1.
  3. [3]
    (in French) Archives du Rugby: Mayotte retrieved 8 September 2009
  4. [4]
    "1999 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPNscrum. 1 September 1996.
  5. [5]
    "2003 Rugby World Cup Qualifier Results". ESPNscrum. 1 September 1996.
  6. [6]
    "Oceania Cup". ESPNscrum. 6 September 2003.
  7. [7]
    "Oceania Cup". ESPNscrum. 28 August 2004.
  8. [8]
    It is unclear whether this competition included any other game apart from the one between Niue and Cook Islands
  9. [9]
    The competition also served as rounds 1 and 2 of Oceania qualification for 2007 Rugby World Cup.
  10. [10]
    "FORU Cup 2006 / Results". ESPNscrum. Retrieved 23 February 2015.
  11. [11]
    "Niue Island v Papua New Guinea at Paliati". ESPN Scrum. 22 April 2008.
  12. [12]
    "Niue take Oceania Cup rugby union final". ABC Radio Australia. 1 September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 September 2008.
  13. [13]
    Crucial qualifiers IRB. (2009).
  14. [14]
    PNG claim Oceania Cup IRB. (2011).
  15. [15]
    "Cook Islands defeat PNG to claim Oceania Cup and keep Rugby World Cup dream alive". Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions. 14 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  16. [16]
    "Post Match Review ORC 2015 Final". Oceania Rugby. 31 August 2015. Archived from the original on 31 August 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  17. [17]
    "Tahiti take home Oceania Rugby Cup". Oceania Rugby. 6 August 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  18. [18]
    "Pupuks win 2019 Oceania Cup". Post-Courrier. 2 September 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  19. [19]
    World Rugby.org (20 April 2015). "World Rugby Rankings". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  20. [20]
    Irene Watt (2 April 2012). "Enrique TOPO Rodríguez talks rugby". Retrieved 22 April 2015.
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