A sea of colour greeted the Fiji rugby team yesterday as more than 4000 fans turned up to welcome the Flying Fijians at the Post Fiji Stadium in Laucala.


The die-hard fans braved the wet and windy conditions to take part in celebrations to honour the FMF Flying Fijians side after their inspirational performance at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Flying Fijians coach Ilivasi Tabua leads the team in the march in Suva


President Ratu Josefa Iloilo was joined by interim Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, the diplomatic corps, interim ministers and people young and old to mark the day.


In what was a repeat of 2005 when the Fiji 7s team won the 7s RWC, this celebration was fit for heroes despite the Webb Ellis Trophy still being in France.


Students from various schools lined Laucala Bay Road from Vatuwaqa Primary School to the stadium waving Fiji flags as Ilivasi Tabua and his men marched to the tune of the Fiji Military Forces and Fiji Police Force bands.


Back at the stadium, a small group of fans braved the rain and decided to sit on the grounds. They then kept the majority of fans who had gathered at the grandstands entertained with the Fiji rugby war dance cibi.


Upon entering the stadium, the crowd erupted into a cheer and sounds of "go Fiji go" echoed around the Laucala Bay bowl.

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As the team did their lap of honour, children ran along the embarkment to get a closer glimpse of their rugby heroes.


The national anthem was played upon the arrival of Ratu Josefa Iloilo.


In his speech, Ratu Josefa said everyone paid tribute to the fine performance demonstrated by the Flying Fijians.

"As the nation stood still in awe at the splendour of your prowess honed by the breathtaking performance first against Japan and then Canada, you failed to be diminished by the Australians," Ratu Josefa said.
"These were but the prologue to the theatrical masterpiece you summoned to slay the Welsh Dragons.
"This being no coincidence for it was in our years in the Dragons playground in Hong Kong that honed our flamboyance and to which we have so richly adapted in the full code.
"To face perhaps the best forward pack in world rugby in the form of the mighty Springboks at the quarter-finals, you again were not deterred by mere reputation alone.
"You showed the whole world that Fiji can indeed be a force to be reckoned with in world rugby. Even when the chips were down with one man short, you brought our nation to its feet in jubilation to draw level with a mere 15 minutes to go in the match."

The players were then called up to receive a plague each for the fine performances. They each received cheers from the crowd.


For some of the players, the support of shown by the people was overwhelming being held with high respect was new.

"We did not expect a big crowd here today. But now we have seen the people of Fiji are in unity and we are happy to give something back to our country,"

big number eight Sisa Koyamaibole said.


Prop Graham Dewes said the team hoped to bring more celebrations for the people of Fiji in the future.

"I would like to thank the fans of Fiji for supporting us all along. Hope we can continue to please you all," the Auckland-based player said.
"We did not imagine it to be like this. It is an honour to have marched into the stadium and having the fans greet us with applause."

For coach Tabua, he said the people have always been the driving force behind the team.

"It's amazing what our performance has done. To see the reaction of people is just amazing and we are overwhelmed by the support," the former Wallabies forward said.
"For us, playing in France was for all our supporters and we would like to thank them for turning out in numbers."

Source: The Fiji Times