The Fiji Airways men’s rugby sevens team finished the Cape Town Sevens in South Africa by claiming the top position in the HSBC SVNS points table. Although they concluded the tournament in third place, they secured 36 points, leading ahead of Spain with 32 points and both South Africa and France, who are tied with 30 points.
In the semi-finals, Fiji faced France and suffered a narrow defeat, losing 17-19. However, they rallied in the playoff for third place, decisively defeating Spain 47-10. Head coach Osea Kolinisau expressed disappointment after the semi-final loss, indicating that the team failed to capitalize on their opportunities against France. He emphasized the importance of strong defensive strategies, stating, “We’ve worked a lot on defence and defence wins you championships.”
Rugby fans can take heart in the performances of individual players; Naduvalu stood out with three tries during the Cape Town event, while Ilikimi Torosi, Kavekini Tanivanuakula, and George Bose each added two tries to the tally. South Africa ultimately claimed victory in the Cape Town Sevens, defeating France 26-14 in the final.
Looking ahead, the next event on the series calendar is the Perth Sevens in Australia, scheduled for January 24-26, where the Fijians will aim to build on their current form.
In a related note, the Fijiana women’s rugby team secured a 10th place finish in the tournament, narrowly losing 14-12 to China in the ninth-place playoff. Encouragingly, they celebrated their first victory in the series by overcoming Brazil with a close score of 22-19. Currently, the Fijiana team sits at 11th place in the series points table, while Spain is positioned at 12th.
This recent performance showcases the resilience and potential of both Fiji teams, highlighting their commitment to improving and competing at high levels on the international stage. As they prepare for upcoming tournaments, there is optimism that these experiences will fuel further successes for both the men’s and women’s teams.
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