Aussie Select 7s debutant Garlen Peace is thrilled to be back in Fiji for the 14th edition of the McDonald’s Fiji Coral Coast 7s, a journey enriched by his desire to connect with his Fijian heritage. Peace, a young halfback with both First Nations and Fijian roots, hails from Votua Village on the Coral Coast, where his father originates.
Having arrived in Fiji along with the Australian development side, the trip holds special significance for Peace. “My mum is Aboriginal and I’m very close to my Aboriginal family back in Australia, and this trip is a great opportunity for me to strengthen my connection with my Fijian family,” he shared. “It’s a dream come true to play in front of my Fijian family who haven’t seen me play before. Having them there in the stands will be incredibly special.”
The Aussie Select 7s, directed by head coach Shannon Fraser and assistant coach Matthew Sonter, quickly adapted to their new surroundings, completing their first training session at Cuvu College on the Coral Coast just after their arrival. After narrowly reaching the quarter-finals during their debut last year, the squad, supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, is looking forward to another competitive performance at the tournament.
Competing in Pool D of the men’s division among six pools, the team is gearing up for a demanding series of matches against some of Fiji’s top teams. Peace expressed his eagerness for the opportunity, stating, “I’m just looking forward to soaking up as much as I can from this experience, learning as much as possible, and then taking those learnings back to Brisbane to hopefully have a strong season.”
Matthew Sonter emphasized the importance of the tournament for the players, particularly the debutants. “It was great to get the boys out on the field for our first training session here in Fiji. We’ve got plenty of talent in the team, and this tournament is the perfect opportunity for our boys to test themselves against the best in Fiji and really earn those experiences,” he said.
Rugby Australia’s Head of Pacific Partnerships, Daniel Millis, highlighted that the Coral Coast 7s represents more than just a sporting event. “This is about more than just the rugby. Sport has always been one of the strongest bridges between Australia and Fiji,” he noted. Through initiatives like PacificAus Sports and events such as the Coral Coast 7s, the aim is to nurture athletes while fostering meaningful connections grounded in respect, culture, and shared values.
As the tournament prepares to kick off, with local enthusiasm on the rise, the Aussie Select 7s are set to make a compelling start to their Coral Coast 7s campaign on Thursday afternoon in Sigatoka. The Coral Coast 7s will begin at 9 am tomorrow at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, with live coverage available on FBC Sports, promising an exciting showcase of rugby.
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