As the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s prepares to kick off this Thursday, a new face from Beqa will join the island parade of teams looking to make an impression on Fiji’s biggest sevens stage. Naceva Blues, a side formed last year following the establishment of the Beqa Rugby Union, will travel to Suva under the stewardship of head coach Epeneri Takausa with modest resources but high hopes of gaining composure and experience.
Takausa, who only recently took the reins, says the squad has been preparing for the tournament "over the past few months" despite training with a limited supply of rugby balls and cones. The coach described the campaign as an important learning step rather than a medal drive. “This team was put together last year, just after establishing the Beqa Rugby Union, and we’re just focused on getting the boys the experience of playing at such a huge tournament,” he said.
The Naceva Blues’ arrival at the Marist 7s is the latest sign of growth for rugby on Beqa, where the formal union is still in its infancy. The team’s short-term objectives are straightforward: to steady nerves, bed in combinations and expose players to the pace and intensity of elite domestic sevens. For many squad members, competing against established clubs in Suva — at the event that draws talent-seekers and development scouts — will be their first sustained test at that level.
Organisers expect teams from across Fiji to converge on the venue for three days of sevens rugby, with the tournament slated to run from Thursday through Saturday. For Naceva Blues, simply being there carries strategic value. The exposure could open pathways for individual players into development programmes and provide the union with practical lessons on logistics, coaching and player welfare that come from contesting a national showcase.
The Blues’ struggle with equipment shortages has been candidly acknowledged by Takausa, who said the players’ enthusiasm and commitment have been the driving force in their preparations. That grassroots spirit is familiar across the domestic sevens circuit, where new and returning sides alike balance ambition with tight budgets. Naceva Blues will therefore be watched as much for their fight as for their on-field rugby.
As the tournament unfolds over the weekend, the Naceva Blues will look to convert hard-earned practice into composure under pressure. While podium finishes may be beyond immediate reach, the team’s participation marks a meaningful step for Beqa rugby — testing its nascent structures and giving local players a platform to learn, be seen and push for more regular inclusion in Fiji’s bustling sevens ecosystem.
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