Fiji Airways Fiji 7s coach Osea Kolinisau has urged his players to honour the nation’s sevens legacy as they prepare to contest the 50th edition of the Hong Kong Sevens, which kicks off tomorrow. Speaking from Hong Kong on the eve of the tournament, Kolinisau said the squad spent time reflecting on the contributions of past players and the history that has made Hong Kong a special venue for Fijian rugby.
“We have a legacy here and the last time we won, we talked about it with the boys. Former players have laid the legacy for us to be here,” Kolinisau told reporters. “I know when we’re here, we can tell the stories that we have won a lot in Hong Kong and I said ‘What are the stories we will write for the future generations to come? Or what stories are you going to leave?’.” The coach, a former Fiji sevens captain, said that invoking that lineage is designed to sharpen the squad’s focus ahead of a demanding weekend.
Kolinisau, who enjoyed success in Hong Kong both as a player and under former head coach Ben Ryan, framed the build-up in terms of consistency and bigger-picture stakes. “The biggest motivation is just making sure that we try and be consistent in the championship and make sure we stay on top of the series,” he said, noting the pressure on teams to maintain their place in the top tier. He warned that poor results could see teams fall into SVNS 2, with broader implications for players and their families.
Fiji have been drawn in a pool that will test depth and adaptability. Their Hong Kong pool schedule sees them open against Germany tomorrow at 5.11pm, meet Great Britain later that evening at 8.21pm, and conclude pool play against Japan on Saturday at 8.44pm. The Fijians will be seeking to rekindle the dominance they last enjoyed in Hong Kong in 2019, when they lifted the cup under coach Gareth Baber.
This tournament comes amid an active season for Fiji 7s, which has included regional events and selection decisions intended to balance experience with emerging talent. Kolinisau’s focus on legacy and consistency follows a run of campaigns where Fiji’s place in the global sevens landscape has both inspired national pride and invited scrutiny over performance across the SVNS circuit. Maintaining a top-tier series position is central to the programme’s planning for the remainder of the calendar.
For the squad, Hong Kong represents both a chance to honour past achievements and an opportunity to create new memories for the next generation of Fijian players. With the 50th edition drawing international attention and Fiji’s pool containing a mix of European and Asian opposition, Kolinisau has set a clear challenge: play for the nation’s history while securing the results needed to keep Fiji at the top of the series. Their campaign begins tomorrow when they take the field against Germany.
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