Niue Rugby Football Union

Niue Rugby Logo

Niue Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Niue. It was founded in 1952,[1] and became affiliated to the World Rugby (formerly the IRB) in 1999.

The Niue Rugby Football Union is a member of the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU),[2][3] and was also a member of the former Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance and was eligible to supply players to the Pacific Islanders team.

Rugby union in Niue

Niue Rugby Football Union
Country Niue
Governing body Niue Rugby Football Union
National team(s) Niue
First played Turn of 20th century
Registered players 290
Clubs 7
The Niue sevens team performing a haka.

Rugby union is the most popular sport in Niue.[4] It is a tier-three rugby union playing nation.

National team

The Niue national rugby union team first started playing in 1983. They have yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.

Niue won the current FORU Oceania Cup in 2008, defeatingNew Caledonia 27-5 in the final on 1 September 2008.[5]

History

They began playing international rugby union in the 1950s, and have yet to make the Rugby World Cup. Teams from Niue have competed in the Commonwealth Games.

When Niue competed in the 2001 Wellington 7s, they took a completely local-based squad, and though they scored tries against England and Canada, they were crushed in most games. Infamously, they surprised everyone by beating Japan 31-19 in 2002.

The New Zealand player Frank Bunce is the great nephew of Sir Robert Rex, the premier of Niue.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Unions List". Rugby Football History. 2014. Archived from the original on 9 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  2. ↑ "Niue Rugby Union". FORU. 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ↑ "FORU's Mission". oceaniarugby.com. 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. ↑ South Pacific and Micronesia. Lonely Planet. 2006. p. 53. ISBN 1-74104-304-2.
  5. ↑ "Niue take Oceania Cup rugby union final" Archived 16 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine., ABC Radio Australia, 1 September 2008
  6. ↑ South Pacific and Micronesia. Lonely Planet. 2006. p. 358. ISBN 1-74104-304-2.


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