The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s team has soared to the top of the World 7s Series standings, now sharing the lead with South Africa and New Zealand, each boasting 32 points following the recent Cape Town 7s tournament.
Fiji secured third place in this competition after a hard-fought 26-19 victory against France. The match commenced with France taking an early lead, as Andy Timo crossed the try line to make it 7-0. However, Fiji responded swiftly; Terio Veilawa scored to level the game, and speedy winger Vuiviawa Naduvalo powered through the French defense to put Fiji ahead at 14-7.
France managed to equalize just before halftime, with Liam Delamare scoring to bring the score to 14-all. The second half saw Fiji come out with renewed energy, as Sevuloni Mocenacagi and Manueli Maisamoa both found the try line, extending Fiji’s lead to 26-14. A late try from Simon Desert for France brought the scoreline closer, but Fiji held firm to secure the win.
Coach Osea Kolinisau reflected on the tournament, noting the team’s inconsistency but expressing satisfaction with their decisive finish and the important points earned. He acknowledged the mistakes made in their earlier loss to Argentina and stated that the team would focus on addressing these issues before the next series event.
Despite Fiji’s performance, South Africa continues to lead on points difference after narrowly defeating Argentina 21-19 in the tournament final. Fiji gained 16 points from the Cape Town event, while New Zealand and France earned 12 and 28 points, respectively. Australia follows with 26 points in the standings, and Argentina sits in sixth with 24 points.
Looking ahead, the next leg of the series will take place at the Singapore 7s, scheduled for January 31 to February 1, 2026, providing Fiji an opportunity to build on their success and sharpen their performance as they compete for the top spot in the series.
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