The Fiji Airways men’s rugby sevens team has emerged at the top of the HSBC SVNS points table following the Cape Town Sevens in South Africa. Despite finishing in third place in this tournament, Fiji accumulated 36 points, maintaining a lead over Spain with 32 points, while South Africa and France are tied at 30 points.
In the semi-finals, Fiji narrowly lost to France with a score of 17-19. However, the team showed resilience by defeating Spain decisively, 47-10, in the playoff for third place. Head coach Osea Kolinisau expressed disappointment over the missed opportunities against France, emphasizing the importance of defense in achieving success in championships.
Notable performances came from Naduvalu, who scored three tries, alongside Ilikimi Torosi, Kavekini Tanivanuakula, and George Bose, each contributing two tries. South Africa ultimately claimed victory in the Cape Town Sevens, beating France 26-14 in the final.
Looking ahead, the next tournament will be the Perth Sevens in Australia, scheduled for January 24-26.
In a positive turn for the Fijiana women’s rugby team, they finished 10th in Cape Town, narrowly losing to China 14-12 in the ninth-place playoff. The team, coached by Timoci Volavola, celebrated its first victory in the series against Brazil, with a score of 22-19. Currently, the Fijiana team sits in 11th place in the series points table.
Overall, despite some challenges, both teams have shown significant potential and are working hard toward future successes. The upcoming Perth Sevens presents a promising opportunity for improvement and growth.
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