The future of Fijiana 7s head coach Saiasi Fuli is now in the hands of the Fiji Rugby Union. This was stated by Fuli when questioned about his plans with the Fijiana 7s team post the Paris Olympic Games.
Following their fourth consecutive loss in the tournament, some have taken to social media calling for a change in the Fijiana 7s coaching panel. Questions were raised about the existing systems, especially since Fuli has been with the team for five years and the players have enough experience to compete at that level.
“The intention was to coach them for the four-year cycle leading up to the Olympics and the next Olympics. It is for Fiji Rugby to decide, I can’t make any decisions,” Fuli commented. He mentioned that he had discussed his intentions with the team.
“I have other things to focus on in life for my family, but right now my focus is to complete the tournament here in Paris,” he added.
Fuli took over the Fijiana 7s coaching role from Ro Alifereti Doviverata in 2019. He led the national women’s side to a bronze medal win at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.
“I’ve managed myself well over the past four years, taking care of this team, moving from tier two in 14th position to 6th, and we’ve progressed significantly in recent years. The reality of rugby is sometimes you win and sometimes you lose; it was not what we expected despite well-organized preparation, support from Fiji Rugby, and backing from the Government and public. The results are what they are,” Fuli stated.
The Fiji Rugby Union is expected to conduct a full review of the Olympic teams in August.
“I want to acknowledge and commend the dedication and hard work of Saiasi Fuli. Coach Fuli has been a crucial part of our program, bringing his expertise to the development and performance of the Fijiana 7s team,” FRU interim chair Peter Mazey said. “As is customary, we will conduct a comprehensive review of our Olympic campaign. This review will assess all aspects of our preparation and performance, including coaching, training programs, and support systems.”
Fuli and the Fijiana 7s team will depart from France on August 2 and arrive in the country on August 4 alongside the men’s team.