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Sports culture is unique as different racial mixes and cultures come together in a common interest, Fiji is fanatical about sports and the two most dominant being rugby and soccer. SPORTS IN PRECOLONIAL FIJI Sports in old Fiji apart from recreation had a practical place helping train young warriors, one such a practice would have the older men bring the male children a severally injured captive of war the boys would practice their archery skills against this living target. However not all ancient sports were so gruesome. FIJI SPORTS COUNCIL The Fiji Sports Council is an organisation incharge of organising International tournaments for Fiji athletes. It is also affiliated to FASANOC . The organisation is headed by its Chairman Tom Ricketts (Fiji Politician) It is also one of the leading provider of quality sports & recreational facilities & programs at national, regional and international levels. It was established in 1978 under the Fiji Sports Council Act and year later in 1979 , it hosted the first South Pacific Games . It was recently incharge of hosting the 2007 Netball World Championships which was to be held in Suva but due to the 2006 Military Coup , the venue was shifted to New Zealand and Fiji lost out in hosting the biggest event of the year. RUGBY UNION See Also: Rugby union in Fiji The National Team is quite successful, and has competed at four Rugby World Cup s, the first being in 1987 , which has also thus so far been their best result when they reached the quarter finals. Fiji also competes in the Pacific Tri-Nations and the Pacific Nations Cup . The sport is governed by the Fiji Rugby Union which is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , and contributes to the Pacific Islanders Rugby Union Team . At the club level there are the Colonial Cup and Pacific Rugby Cup . The Fiji Sevens Team is the most successful Rugby 7s team in the world and has won 2 world cup titles and last years IRB Series. RUGBY LEAGUE See Also: Rugby league in Fiji Rugby League is a popular team sport played in Fiji. The Fijian rugby league competition consists of nine teams. Fiji has produced some of the finest rugby league players in the world. Notable examples include Lote Tuqiri and Petero Civoniceva , both of whom have played for Australia in international test matches, Queensland in the State Of Origin series and the Brisbane Broncos in Australian club grand final victories. SOCCER Soccer was a minor sport but over the last decade with further international funding from FIFA and sound local management of the sport has grown in popularity amongst the Indian community initially but now also the Fijian community. AUSTRALIAN RULES FOOTBALL See Also: Australian rules football in Oceania While there is not currently an organised league in Fiji , the country is notable in Australian Football as several players of Fijian descent play professionally in the Australian Football League , including Port Adelaide's David Rodan and Alipate Carlile and Carlton's Setanta Ó HAilpín . Australian rules football has been played sporadically in Fiji, with efforts starting using . Football's South Pacific Paradise by Brett Northey for World Footy News. September 04 2004 The Australia Network began televising games in Fiji in 2002. David Rodan has acted as an international ambassador for the sport and has a passion to see the sport succeed in Fiji.[http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21991520%255E19770,00.html Rodan plans to put Fiji on footy map ] Nicholas Naitanui, AIS graduate AIS Athlete profile: Nicholas Naitanui and best on ground in the Western Australian Under 18s squad which won the Under 18s Australian Football championship is an almost certain pick for the 2007 AFL Draft .[http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,22059292%255E19742,00.html WA midfield pick of crop OTHER SPORTS Many sports exist in Fiji and in many ways has its on cultural following, sports such as golf which has been made famous by Fiji athlete Vijay Singh, cricket, surfing, windsurfing which was brought to prominence by former world champion and Fiji Athlete Tony Philps, Sailing in varying forms, various adventure sports, athletics, various Asian martial arts and boxing. FAMOUS FIJIAN SPORTSMEN See Also: List of Fijian sportspeople
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