Less than 24 hours before play begins, the Fiji Bitter Nawaka 7s returns to Prince Charles Park in Nadi with a full day of pre-tournament formalities set to shape the weekend’s competition. Organisers say captains, coaches and managers will complete mandatory engagements today before the tournament kicks off tomorrow, with the finals scheduled for Saturday.
At 2pm captains from every side will assemble at the Nalagi Hotel for a formal photoshoot. Tournament officials have imposed a strict dress code for the session: captains are expected to wear their team jerseys, shorts and socks with canvas footwear. A total of 104 captains will be present — representing 56 men’s teams, 36 teams in the under-21 competition and 12 women’s sides — underscoring the size of the field competing this leg.
Later in the afternoon coaches and team managers will gather at Legends Sports Bar in Nadi for a 5pm briefing on the tournament by-laws. Organisers say the meeting is designed to clarify regulations and to ask officials to stress to players the importance of abiding by the rules throughout the event, a move intended to preserve player safety and fair play as the weekend’s fixtures are contested.
Organisers and participants have signalled this edition is expected to be larger and more fiercely contested than earlier legs of the 2025/26 season. The series began with the Yalovata 7s on Ovalau in November, and organisers note that the depth of teams and the intensity displayed since then have raised expectations for Nawaka. Many sides arriving in Nadi, officials say, have demonstrated a willingness to push for trophies and the prize money on offer.
The Nawaka 7s is an important stop on Fiji’s domestic sevens calendar, drawing grassroots clubs, service teams and development sides that use the event to build momentum through the season. With over a hundred captains in attendance and a reinforced emphasis on by-law compliance, this week’s tournament will also serve as a benchmark for discipline and organisation as teams continue their campaigns.
Play will centre on Prince Charles Park for the duration of the competition, concluding on Saturday. With the increased number of entries and tighter competition projected, the Nadi leg will be a key barometer of form and depth across Fiji’s men’s, under-21 and women’s sevens ranks as the 2025/26 season progresses.
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