The Kiribati national rugby sevens team represents Kiribati in Rugby sevens. They played their first international match in 2022.
| Union | Kirbati 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 result | 0 |
History edit
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 edit
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 edit
Pacific Games edit
| Pacific Games | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L |
| 1999–2019 | Did Not Compete | |||||
 2023 |
11th Place Playoff | 12th | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 1/7 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Oceania Sevens edit
| Oceania Sevens | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L |
| 2008–22 | Did Not Compete | |||||
 2023
|
13th Place Playoff | 14th | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 1/15 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge edit
| Oceania Rugby Sevens Challenge | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D | L |
| 2022
|
7th Place Playoff | 8th | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Total | 0 Titles | 1/1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
References edit
- ^ a b "New kids on the Pacific block: Kiribati make their international debut". oceania.rugby. 2022-12-05. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ Ewart, Richard (2022-11-17). "From stones to grass - Kiribati ready to debut on international sevens scene". ABC Pacific. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wood, Jesse (2023-11-21). "Talaiti kits up for Niue". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ "Final lap before three-day sevens thriller". oceania.rugby. 2023-11-09. Retrieved 2023-11-20.
- ^ 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.