Fijivillage
8 February, 2026, 7:23 pm
Central - 23°C Clouds
8 February, 2026, 7:23 pm Central - 23°C Clouds

Byrne impressed with new caps as Flying Fijians gear up for PNC

Byrne impressed with new caps as Flying Fijians gear up for PNC

By Mosese Raqio
31/07/2025
Fullback Salesi Rayasi and young halfbacks Phillip Baselala and Samuel Wye

Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne has praised the performances of fullback Salesi Rayasi and young halfbacks Phillip Baselala and Samuel Wye, who made their international debuts in recent test matches against the Wallabies and Scotland.

Byrne says it was encouraging to see the three players settle in quickly and contribute confidently in their first appearances in the white jersey.

mick-byrne-sm

He says the pleasing thing is they did not look out of place with a white jersey on, and that is always a good sign.

He adds that the new players came into camp, trained hard, and did their jobs really well, and they have definitely put their hands up for future selections.

With the debutants showing promise, Byrne and his coaching staff are now focused on finalising the squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup which kicks off on the 23rd of August.

The Flying Fijians open their campaign against Tonga on 30th August at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

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