6 December, 2025, 5:48 pm Central - 24°C Rain

Byrne pleased with Flying Fijians’ improvements ahead of Pacific Nations Cup

Byrne pleased with Flying Fijians’ improvements ahead of Pacific Nations Cup

By Mosese Raqio
31/07/2025
Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne

Fiji Water Flying Fijians coach Mick Byrne says the team has shown significant improvement in their recent Test matches against the Wallabies and Scotland, and believes they are on the right track heading into the Pacific Nations Cup next month.

Byrne says one of the key positives was their improved defensive effort, especially in the closing stages of matches, an area that had previously led to costly penalties and opposition points.

He says their defence really stood up under pressure, and that was pleasing to see.

As the team shifts its focus to the PNC, Byrne says the work done around the contact area has been strong, and while there’s still room to improve at the breakdown, he believes there are more gains to be made.

He also highlighted handling errors as an issue, noting the team created several scoring opportunities but couldn’t convert due to dropped balls.

Byrne says finishing off those plays comes down to more time on the training field.

He says some players had not played for four or five weeks, so the touch was a bit off, but with a few consistent weeks together, they will see a big difference.

The Flying Fijians will open their PNC campaign against Tonga at 3pm on the 30th of August at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

FNRL
FEATURE NEWS
Kolinisau targets discipline and defence ahead of Cape Town 7s
Discipline and defence were key weaknesses in the Fiji Airways Men's National team's disappointing performance at the Dubai 7s, and both are now majo...
2 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Call for more hindi language stressed at National Manak Conference
The role of the Hindi language in its continued growth and social media pressure has been highlighted at the National Manak Hindi Conference at ...
2 minutes ago

North eagerly await for Navtarang Sargam Bollywood Dhamaka Show to begin
People in the North are extremely excited and eagerly awaiting the Navtarang/Sargam Bollywood Dhamaka Show tonight at Subrail Park, Labasa.Labasa ...
11 minutes ago

83 students graduate from Brighter Minds Fiji after impressive cognitive and sensory skill displays
83 students from Ba Andhra Sangam School, Tagitagi Sangam School, and Tagore Memorial School have graduated from Brighter Minds Fiji after gaining ...
1 hour ago

Silence will make it worse: Rotuma youth leader calls for HIV awareness
With HIV cases emerging in Rotuma and fears that the festive season could accelerate transmission, youth representative Inoke Mani says urgent ...
1 hour ago

Fijiana focus on mental strength as they prepare for tough Cape Town pool
As the Fijiana 7s team head into Cape Town, coach Richard Walker says they are keeping the team grounded, confident, and mentally ready to face a ...
1 hour ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Fiji Law Society Convention 2025
There is a constant struggle that we seem to have in Fiji with upholding and respecting the rule of law, and in my view, I think it starts at the ...
1 day ago

Tribunal case of suspended Commissioner of Corrections Dr Nakarawa
Tribunal proceedings for suspended Corrections Commissioner Dr Nakarawa are underway, focusing on allegations of misbehaviour during his tenure as ...
1 day ago

Inspire Pacific Founder Ben Morrison and Peer Mentor Tikiko Tavualevu on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Pastor Ben Morrison and Tikiko Tavualevu on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan as they discuss Inspire Pacific’s specialised ...
2 days ago

TOP