The Fiji Airways Fiji men’s rugby sevens squad has arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the 50th edition of the Hong Kong Sevens, touching down on Sunday as coach Osea Kolinisau moved to steady preparations and integrate three new faces into the tournament squad. The early arrival is aimed at building momentum and adjusting to conditions ahead of a tournament that remains one of the most iconic stops on the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Kolinisau confirmed the inclusion of three debutants from the Yaro Chiefs — captain Wame Ratuva, winger Tomasi Vuluma Stark, and Isaia Rugu — who will all be in contention to make their first appearances in the famous Hong Kong cauldron. The selection continues a pathway for domestic talent into the national set-up; Ratuva and Stark had previously been part of national training camps and their elevation to matchday contention in Hong Kong marks the next step in their development.
The coach stressed how special Hong Kong is for Fiji sevens, noting the size and passion of the Fijian following there. Kolinisau said many fans in the territory treat Fiji as “their home team,” creating an atmosphere that can lift the players. He also used the opportunity to reflect on lessons from the team’s recent setback in New York City, saying the squad is determined to start strongly in Hong Kong in order to secure vital series points and keep qualification ambitions on track.
Kolinisau drew on personal memories of the venue to inspire his players, recalling his hat-trick in the 2013 Hong Kong final as one of the standout moments of his playing career. That experience underlines the tournament’s importance to Fiji rugby and gives added weight to the team’s bid to respond after an inconsistent run on the tour so far.
Fiji’s pool schedule is firm: they open against Germany on Friday at 5.11pm, then face Great Britain at 8.21pm the same evening, before closing pool play against France on Saturday at 4.13pm. The knockout stages follow immediately, with quarter-finals slated for Saturday night, semi-finals on Sunday evening and the final to be played later that night — meaning swift recovery between matches will be essential for any team aiming for the title.
The draw places South Africa — current series champions — at the head of Pool A alongside Argentina, Spain and Uruguay, while Pool C contains the other heavyweights Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Kenya. For Fiji, the combination of fresh talent, an early arrival to acclimatise and a supportive diaspora crowd forms the blueprint for answering recent form questions and mounting a serious run in the tournament.
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