The Fiji Airways Fijiana Sevens squad has put team bonding, cultural identity and mental preparation at the centre of its build-up to the World Championships in Hong Kong this weekend, head coach Richard Walker said on the eve of pool play. Speaking from Hong Kong, Walker described a camp culture designed to deepen connections between players and sharpen their mental focus ahead of three high-stakes matches.
“Everything we do is together,” Walker told Times Sport. “From the moment we wake up, even going to breakfast, we make sure we move as a team. No phones and it’s about talking, connecting and really getting to know each other.” Walking away from screens during communal times is one of several behavioural measures the coaching staff has introduced to encourage more face-to-face interaction and conversation among squad members.
Walker also outlined a novel pairing system that sends players out of the rugby environment for short, informal coffee sessions with teammates they might not know well. The aim is to bridge gaps between training acquaintances and build the personal understanding that coaches say translates into better on-field cohesion. “You might train together or even play against each other, but do you really know where they come from and their background,” Walker said.
A stronger focus on cultural identity has been woven into the programme. Players are being encouraged to reconnect with their roots and to take time to understand traditional roles and responsibilities — an acknowledgement that several members of the squad come from chiefly families or communities with distinct leadership traditions. Walker said this reconnection is intended to foster a sense of purpose and belonging that extends beyond the playing field.
The emphasis on unity and mental readiness continues a long-running theme in Fijian sevens rugby, where leaders and former players have often pointed to team culture as a competitive advantage. Former Olympic captain Osea Kolinisau has previously urged national sides to prioritise unity and cohesion; Walker’s approach in Hong Kong represents the latest iteration of that philosophy, with more deliberately structured off-field practices this week.
On the pitch the Fijiana 7s open their Hong Kong campaign against Japan at 8.44pm tomorrow, followed by a match against Brazil at 12.01am Saturday and a final pool game against New Zealand at 5.01pm Saturday. Walker framed those fixtures as both a test and an opportunity for the squad to convert their bonding work into performance under pressure.
With the World Championships stage offering limited time to build momentum, Walker said the team’s condensed, relationship-focused preparation is intended to fast-track trust and collective decision-making. “We are trying to build genuine understanding,” he said — a point the coaching staff hopes will be reflected in composure and clarity when the Fijiana take the field in Hong Kong.
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