Fiji have made the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup three times. Can they do it again?.
Here's everything you need to know about the men in white.
Ben Volavola added a try and two conversions in Fiji's win. Photo: Facebook/Fiji Rugby
When will Fiji play at the Rugby World Cup?
The first game will be against Australia on Saturday September 21 at 1.45pm, Japanese Time.
That means the local timing of the match is:
- Suva: Saturday 4.45 pm
- Auckland: Saturday 4.45 pm
- Sydney: Saturday 2.45 pm
The second game is against Uruguay on Wednesday September 25 at 2.15pm Japanese Time.
That means the local timing of the match is:
- Suva: Wednesday 5.15 pm
- Auckland: Wednesday 5.15pm
- Sydney: Wednesday 3.15pm
Fiji will play its third pool match against Georgia on Thursday October 3 at 2.15 pm.
- Suva: Thursday 5.15 pm
- Auckland: Thursday 6.15pm
- Sydney: Thursday 3.15pm
It will play Wales on Wednesday at 6.45pm.
- Suva: Wednesday 9.45 pm
- Auckland: Wednesday 10.45pm
- Sydney: Wednesday 8.45pm
When will the final of the Rugby World Cup be held?
The final of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held in Yokohama on Saturday, November 2 at 6pm.
The kick-off in local times will be:
- Suva: Saturday 9pm
- Auckland: Saturday 10pm
- Sydney: Saturday 8pm
For more, check out our Rugby World Cup page
What pool is Fiji in this Rugby World Cup?
Fiji is in Pool D along with Australia, Wales, Georgia and uruguay. It is not an easy pool with Wales (3rd) and Australia (7th) ranked in the world standings ahead of Fiji (10th). Georgia is ranked 13th and Uruguay 18th in the world.
Only two from each pool can progress through to the quarter-finals. So in these two pools at least one or two top-ranked sides may not go through.
If there is a pool of death it is probably, Pool C.
It has England (4), France (8) and Argentina (9) up against Tonga (12) and the USA (15).
Where will the next Rugby World Cup be held?
The Rugby World Cup is held every four years. The last one in 2015 was held in England. The 2019 Cup will be hosted by Japan.
The Rugby World Cup in Japan will be held in 12 venues around the country.
The opening match, between hosts Japan and Russia, will be held in Chofu, Tokyo at the Tokyo Stadium. The final will be held at the International Stadium Yokohama.
The opening match of the 2019 Rugby World Cup will be held on Friday, September 20. Kick-off in Tokyo will be 7.45pm.
The kick-off in local times will be:
- Suva: Friday 10.45pm
- Auckland: Friday 10.45pm
- Sydney: Friday 8.45pm
How have Fiji performed at the Rugby World Cup?
Fiji were one of the stars of the very first Rugby World Cup, held in New Zealand in 1987. The team's free-flowing style and fluid running lit up the tournament.
They beat Argentina easily and lost narrowly to Italy, though were thumped by New Zealand, the eventual winners, 74-13. But Fiji went through to the quarter-finals on points and lost to France, the beaten finalists, 16-31.
Fiji have made the quarter-finals three times, in 1987, 1999 and 2007.
Perhaps the team's best performance was at the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they beat Wales 38-34 and finished second behind Australia in their pool.
The question for Fiji now is whether they can follow the Olympic gold medal winning Sevens team (who won the Rio Olympics) and beat the very best in the world.
How does the Rugby World Cup work?
There are 20 teams at the Cup.
They are: Ireland, Scotland, Russia, Japan, Samoa, New Zealand, South Africa, Namibia, Italy, England, France, USA, Tonga, Argentina, Australia, Wales, Fiji, Uruguay, Georgia, plus another side yet to be named.
There are four pools of five countries. Sides play all the others in their pool play. The top 2 in each pool go into the knock-out stages.
Teams progress through quarter-finals to semi-finals and then to a final, if successful. There is also a third and fourth play-off for the bronze medal for the losing semi-finalist.
