Rugby in Fiji was played for the first time in the 1880s by European and Fijian soldiers who were a part of the Native Constabulary at Ba. Popularity of Rugby in Fiji started growing from the early 1900s, as reports of these games began to appear in the press. At that time most of the rugby players were expatriates and a club competition was organized on the island in 1904 between Civil Service Rugby club and Constabulary Rugby club. Rugby is the main sport of only a few countries in the world. While Fiji is one of them, some others are New Zealand, Wales, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

Major Dates in the History of Rugby in Fiji

• 1884: First ever Rugby match was played in Fiji by the European and Fijian soldiers. This historic match was held on Viti Levu Island.
• 1900: By this time, press started reporting about this game in the papers.
• 1913: Paddy Sheehan, a former captain of Otago formed the Pacific Club in Fiji
• 1924: Rugby players from Fiji played their first overseas match in Apia, Samoa, in the August month of this year
• 1926: This year witnessed the first ever visit by an overseas Rugby team, namely that of Auckland University College.
• 1928: First Fiji Rugby school's competition took place
• 1938: For the first time Fijians played the entire game in boots. They did so to honor the first New Zealand Maori team that visited Fiji.
• 1939: Fijian Rugby Team toured New Zealand for the first time
• 1952: Fiji's undertook their first ever tour of Australia that helped the Australian Rugby Union in recovering from the brink of bankruptcy.
• 1963: The name of Fiji Rugby Football Union was changed to Fiji Rugby Union.
• 1987: The Fiji Rugby team played for the World Cup for the first time and reaches the quarter finals.
• 1992: Fiji Rugby team emerges as the champion of the Hong Kong Sevens after beating New Zealand.
• 2001: Fiji Team wins the title of Pacific Rim champions

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