The Fiji Women’s rugby sevens team faced a challenging start to their campaign in the opening round of the SVNS season held in Dubai, finishing in the last position without securing any victories. Under the guidance of coach Timoci Volavola, the team concluded their tournament with a defeat against Spain, losing 5-22 during the 11th-12th place playoff. Milika Drugunavanua emerged as the sole scorer for Fiji, marking the team’s effort despite the overall outcome.
On a brighter note, the tournament saw the Australian Women’s team triumph over New Zealand with a narrow 28-24 victory, securing the title of Dubai 7s champions. Key players for Australia included Faith Nathan, Teagan Levi, Isabella Nasser, and Maddison Levi, all of whom made significant contributions by crossing the try line. For the New Zealand squad, Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane, Theresa Setefano, and Manaia Nuku also showcased their talents.
Australia had a strong performance throughout the event, demolishing Great Britain 35-7 in the semifinals and defeating Canada 39-0 in the quarterfinals, with standout Maddison Levi scoring five tries over the course of the competition. Meanwhile, the USA secured a respectable fifth place by overcoming Ireland 17-7, while Japan narrowly edged past Canada with a 24-22 win to finish in seventh place.
Despite a tough start for the Fiji Women’s team, there are valuable lessons to be learned, and the potential for future improvement remains. As the season progresses, there is hope that they can regroup and build on their experiences in upcoming tournaments.
In summary, the tournament showcased the skills of several teams, with Australia emerging victorious while Fiji seeks to bounce back and make strides in their performance moving forward.
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