By Reginald Chandar

The Flying Fijians will kick off their 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup campaign in New Zealand against Namibia.

The South Seas Islanders will take on the African nation on September 10 at the Rotorua International Stadium.

The Sam Domoni coached side will be out to better their record from the 2007 Rugby World Cup where the side then coached by Ilivasi Tabua reached the quarter-finals in France and lost to eventual winners South Africa 37-20  in a pulsating encounter.

Interestingly, Fiji will again meet up with the Springboks but this time in Group Stages as both nations are grouped together in Pool D.

Europe powerhouse, Wales which Fiji beat 38-34 in its last pool match to make the quarters at the 2007 World Cup is also in the same pool along with Samoa.

Fiji plays the Boks on September 17 in Wellington, Samoa at Eden Park on September 25 and Wales in its final pool match on October 2 at the Waikato Stadium.
A tour of Europe in November is expected to act as a perfect buildup for Fiji while some international friendly matches are still be sort out by the Fiji Rugby Union.

Rugby World Cup pools and match schedule
Pools
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Canada, Japan
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Georgia, winner of two-leg play-off between Romania and Uruguay
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Russia, USA
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Samoa, Namibia

Match Schedule
Fri Sept 9: New Zealand v Tonga, Auckland (Eden Park)

Sat Sept 10: Scotland v Play-off winner, Invercargill (Rugby Park Stadium); Fiji v Namibia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); France v Japan, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium); Argentina v England, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)

Sun Sept 11: Australia v Italy, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); Ireland v USA, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki); South Africa v Wales, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium)

Wed Sept 14: Samoa v Namibia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); Tonga v Canada, Whangarei (Northland Events Centre), Scotland v Georgia, Dunedin (Carisbrook)

Thu Sept 15: Russia v USA, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki)

Fri Sept 16: New Zealand v Japan, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium)

Sat Sept 17: Argentina v Play-off winner, Invercargill (Rugby Park Stadium); South Africa v Fiji, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); Australia v Ireland, Auckland (Eden Park)

Sun Sept 18: Wales v Samoa, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium); England v Georgia, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); France v Canada, Napier (McLean Park)

Tue Sept 20: Italy v Russia, Nelson (Trafalgar Park)

Wed Sept 21: Tonga v Japan, Whangarei (Northland Events Centre)

Thu Sept 22: South Africa v Namibia, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium)

Fri Sept 23: Australia v USA, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium)

Sat Sept 24: England v Play-off winner, Dunedin (Carisbrook); New Zealand v France, Auckland (Eden Park)

Sun Sept 25: Fiji v Samoa, Auckland (Eden Park); Ireland v Russia, Rotorua (Rotorua International Stadium); Argentina v Scotland, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)

Mon Sept 26: Wales v Namibia, New Plymouth (Stadium Taranaki)

Tue Sept 27: Canada v Japan, Napier (McLean Park); Italy v USA, Nelson (Trafalgar Park)

Wed Sept 28: Georgia v Play-off winner, Palmerston (North Arena Manawatu)

Fri Sept 30: South Africa v Samoa, Auckland (North Harbour Stadium)

Sat Oct 1: Australia v Russia, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch); France v Tonga, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); England v Scotland, Auckland (Eden Park)

Sun Oct 2: Argentina v Georgia, Palmerston (North Arena Manawatu); New Zealand v Canada, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); Wales v Fiji, Hamilton (Waikato Stadium); Ireland v Italy, Dunedin (Carisbrook)

Quarter-finals
Sat Oct 8: QF1, winner Pool C v runner-up Pool D, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); QF2, winner Pool B v runner-up Pool A, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)

Sun Oct 9: QF3, winner Pool D v runner-up Pool C, Wellington (Wellington Regional Stadium); QF4, winner Pool A v runner-up Pool B, Christchurch (Stadium Christchurch)

Semi-finals
Sat Oct 15: SF1, winner QF1 v winner QF2, Auckland (Eden Park)

Sun Oct 16: SF2, winner QF3 v winner QF4, Auckland (Eden Park)

Fri Oct 21: Third-place match, Auckland (Eden Park)

Final
Sun Oct 23: Final, Auckland (Eden Park)

Fijilive

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