The Fiji Airways men’s rugby sevens team concluded the Cape Town Sevens in South Africa with a commendable performance, finishing third but still securing their position at the top of the HSBC Sevens World Series points table. This achievement places them at 36 points, leading Spain with 32 points, and both South Africa and France, who are tied with 30 points.
Despite their strong standing, Fiji faced a narrow defeat against France in the semi-finals, losing 17-19 but exhibited resilience by bouncing back with a resounding victory over Spain, winning 47-10. Head coach Osea Kolinisau expressed disappointment over the team’s missed opportunities against France but emphasized the importance of their defensive work, stating, “We’ve worked a lot on defence and defence wins you championships.”
Key players during the tournament included Naduvalu, who scored three tries, while Ilikimi Torosi, Kavekini Tanivanuakula, and George Bose contributed with two tries each. Ultimately, South Africa claimed victory in the Cape Town Sevens, defeating France 26-14 in the final.
Next on the calendar for the Fiji men’s team is the Perth Sevens in Australia, scheduled to take place from January 24-26. This upcoming tournament offers the team another opportunity to strengthen their position in the series.
In a related note, the Fijiana women’s team achieved a notable improvement by finishing 10th overall after narrowly losing 14-12 to China in the ninth place playoff. They celebrated their first win in the series by overcoming Brazil 22-19. Currently, the Fijiana side occupies the 11th position on the series points table, with Spain just behind at 12th.
The overall performance of both teams demonstrates a commitment to growth and improvement in the face of tough competition. With future tournaments on the horizon, there is hope that Fiji’s strong tradition in rugby sevens will continue to thrive, providing fans with exciting matches ahead.
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