Kiribati national rugby sevens team

Kiribati
UnionKirbati Rugby Union
First international
 Papua New Guinea 33–0 Kiribati 
(Gatton, Australia; 19 November 2022)
Largest defeat
 Fiji 76–0 Kiribati 
(Honiara, Solomon Islands; 24 November 2023)
World Cup Sevens
Best result0

The Kiribati national rugby sevens team represents Kiribati in Rugby sevens. They played their first international match in 2022.

History

Kiribati made history at the 2022 Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge tournament in Brisbane when they fielded their first-ever rugby team to represent their nation at an international level.[1][2] Tambwereti Arimaere scored his country's first international try.[1][3] They faced Niue in the seventh place playoff but were defeated 36–7, and finished in eighth place overall.[4][3]

Kiribati featured at the 2023 Oceania Sevens Championship where they finished in fourteenth place.[5][6]

Players

Squad to the 2023 Pacific Games:

Players
Tambwereti Arimaere
Maritino Neaua Ieremia
Barrie Uatu Karea
Aviata Kenana
Tikieru Kenana
Tiito Koito
Michael Maruia
Teaero Matikarai
Salom Mauteka
James Raurenti
Tekei Tanintoa
Titau Tautii

Tournament History

Pacific Games

Pacific Games
Year Round Position Pld W D L
1999–2019 Did Not Compete
Solomon Islands 2023 11th Place Playoff 12th 4 0 0 4
Total 0 Titles 1/7 4 0 0 4

Oceania Sevens

Oceania Sevens
Year Round Position Pld W D L
2008–22 Did Not Compete
Australia 2023 13th Place Playoff 14th 5 0 0 5
Total 0 Titles 1/15 5 0 0 5

Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge

Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge
Year Round Position Pld W D L
Australia 2022 7th Place Playoff 8th 6 0 0 6
Total 0 Titles 1/1 6 0 0 6

References

  1. ^ a b "New kids on the Pacific block: Kiribati make their international debut". oceania.rugby. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  2. ^ Ewart, Richard (2022-11-17). "From stones to grass - Kiribati ready to debut on international sevens scene". ABC Pacific. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  3. ^ a b "Papua New Guinea Womens and Tonga Mens declared winners of the Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge". oceania.rugby. 2022-11-22. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  4. ^ Wood, Jesse (2023-11-21). "Talaiti kits up for Niue". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  5. ^ "Final lap before three-day sevens thriller". oceania.rugby. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
  6. ^ Grey, Lachlan (2023-11-12). "Aussie women & NZ men claim Oceania 7s gold, Fiji and Samoa book tickets to Paris". www.rugby.com.au. Retrieved 2023-11-20.