The Fiji Women’s Sevens team faced a challenging start to the SVNS season in Dubai, ending the tournament in last place without a victory. Under the guidance of coach Timoci Volavola, the team struggled throughout the event, culminating in a 5-22 loss to Spain in the 11-12th place play-off. Milika Drugunavanua was the sole scorer for Fiji with a try.
In contrast, the Australian Women’s team showcased a dominant performance, claiming the championship title by defeating New Zealand 28-24 in a thrilling final. Key players for Australia included Faith Nathan, Teagan Levi, Isabella Nasser, and Maddison Levi, all of whom crossed the try line. New Zealand’s effort included contributions from Jorja Miller, Risi Pouri-Lane, Theresa Setefano, and Manaia Nuku.
Australia’s path to the finals was marked by impressive victories, including a significant 35-7 win over Great Britain in the semifinals and a commanding 39-0 result against Canada in the quarterfinals, with Maddison Levi impressively scoring five tries.
Additionally, the USA secured fifth place by defeating Ireland 17-7, while Japan edged past Canada 24-22 to finish seventh.
While this tournament did not go as Fiji had hoped, it presents an opportunity for growth and development as they look ahead to future competitions. They can use this experience to regroup, learn from their challenges, and come back stronger in the next legs of the series. There remains hope that with continued support and training, the Fiji Women’s Sevens team will find the success they seek.
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