Rugby World Cup

The 37-year-old first five-eighth was charged with misconduct after engaging in a heated exchange with match officials after Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup final defeat to La Rochelle in May.

An independent disciplinary committee ruled Sexton’s behaviour “confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials”.

After two emphatic wins to kick off World Cup year, many questions surrounding the side have been answered.

It was a tough 2022 for Ian Foster and his side, but the slump appears to be over.

Foster said following heavy scrutiny last season, there was nothing better as an All Blacks team than to repay the public's faith.

"It's very satisfying, it's a step in the right direction. We've set ourselves some clear objectives about the big rocks in our game that we really want to get right and we're getting them right at the moment."

Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, a former Flying Fijians himself, told the squad members and management on Taveuni on Thursday that the bonus payment will be paid to the players at the end of their World Cup campaign.

FBC Sports said that Rabuka confirmed the funds will not come from government but from "a friend of Fiji".

Rabuka, who was attending the funeral of former Fijian government minister the late Ratu Talemo Ratakele, visisted the squad at their Welagi village camp.

Mazey said the FRU had even budgeted for the Flying Fijians to reach the final of the tournament in France, but there was bad news of budget cuts for the double Olympic Games gold medal-winning sevens squad.

Speaking at a media conference at Rugby House, Mazey said: “We have only been here a month and there is so much work for us to do in getting everything here in order, so we are asking the people of Fiji to bear with us.

“We know that many of you have disliked us, or do not like us, but we are doing everything we can to get things in order.

Nine Fijians are part of the squad with four in the rehab and train on squad groups.

Jones has named a 34-player squad for the Rugby Championship which also includes Rob Valetini, Marika Koroibete, Suliasi Vunivalu and Mark Nawaqanitawase.

Samu Kerevi is in the rehab group with Langi Gleeson.

The train on squad have the likes of Filipo Daugunu, halfback Issak Fines-Leleiwasa and Serupepeli Uru.

Australia’s first Rugby Championship game is against South Africa at 3.05 am on the 9th of July.

Foster was back at his old stomping ground at Te Awamutu Rugby Club for Sunday night's squad announcement and there were plenty of cheers when the five debutants were named, especially the Chiefs players, loose forward Samipeni Finau and outside back Emoni Narawa.

The other uncapped players are the Hurricanes halfback Cam Roigard, who takes the place of the veteran Brad Weber, and two Crusaders, prop Tamaiti Williams and midfielder Dallas McLeod.

The latter's inclusion was a surprise for many, but he gets a shot with regulars David Havili and Quinn Tupaea out injured.

Kolisi suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury playing for the Sharks against Munster in the United Rugby Championship last month, but according to South Africa coach Jacques Nienaber is "hitting his markers" in terms of his recovery.

He said Kolisi was on track to be fit for the Word Cup, which kicks off in France in September and where South Africa will be defending the trophy that Kolisi lifted in Japan four years ago.

The Sharks flank was forced from the field in the early minutes of the game but was able to stand and walk off on his own accord.

But South Africa’s Independent Newspapers group reported that the World Cup-winning flanker suffered a partial ACL tear that typically involves a 9 month recovery process if surgery is undertaken.

The report said that Kolisi has seen two specialists who have recommended surgery, and a third will be consulted before a decision is made.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka announced that the Flying Fijians have received a massive boost.

A statement said the agreement with Earth’s finest water will provide $3.8 million to help ensure the Flying Fijians are in the strongest position to compete at the World Cup in France.

The deal builds on previous support FIJI Water provided for the Flying Fijians when it was a supporting sponsor of the team in 2020 during the Autumn Nations Cup. For the past three years, the FRU and Flying Fijians have been supported through the Fiji Sports Commission and government funding.

Jones took over from the sacked Dave Rennie last month but, despite the World Cup being so close, has brought on board no backroom staff since his appointment.

Reuters reports the 63-year-old, who was knocked back this week by former New Zealand rugby league coach Michael Maguire, said he was looking for specific skills for a specific task.

"In a lot of ways, we've got time because as a coaching team, we need to be together probably for the last six or eight weeks of Super Rugby, where selection is going to become important," Jones said.