The Fiji Airways men’s rugby sevens team concluded the Cape Town Sevens in South Africa with a commendable performance, finishing third while also topping the HSBC SVNS points table. Despite their semi-final loss to France in a close match that ended 17-19, the Fijian team secured 36 points, placing them ahead of Spain, which accumulated 32 points, and South Africa and France, both at 30 points.
Head coach Osea Kolinisau expressed his disappointment regarding the team’s missed opportunities against France but maintained confidence in their overall defense strategy, emphasizing that strong defense is crucial for success in tournaments. The team showcased their strengths in the subsequent match against Spain, decisively winning 47-10.
Fijian player Naduvalu notably scored three tries during the Cape Town tournament, while Ilikimi Torosi, Kavekini Tanivanuakula, and George Bose each made commendable contributions with two tries. South Africa emerged as the tournament champion, defeating France 26-14 on home soil.
Looking ahead, the Fijian team’s next challenge will be the Perth Sevens in Australia, scheduled for January 24-26, where they will aim to build on their success and reinforce their position in the points table.
In a separate note, the Fijiana women’s team showed some improvement, finishing in 10th place after narrowly losing 14-12 to China in the ninth place playoff. They recorded their first victory of the series by overcoming Brazil 22-19, placing them 11th on the series points table, just ahead of Spain.
Overall, while the men’s team may have faced challenges in the knockout stage, their resilience and strong points lead indicate great potential for future tournaments, particularly with a positive outlook for the upcoming matches in Australia. The women’s team also demonstrated growth and determination, suggesting a promising trajectory in their future competitions.
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