Anticipation is growing in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, as it prepares to host the much-awaited Oceania Rugby Sevens Championship. Following the successful 2023 Pacific Games and various regional tournaments, Honiara is solidifying its status as a burgeoning hub for sports, culture, and tourism in the Pacific region.
The upcoming championship is set to attract over 500 athletes, officials, delegates, and media, alongside numerous visitors to the Solomon Islands. Teams from across the region will compete for a chance to qualify for the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, with two men’s teams and one women’s team earning the opportunity to showcase their talents on the international stage.
Dagnal Dereveke, Chief Executive of Tourism Solomons, highlighted the event’s importance for promoting the Solomon Islands worldwide and enhancing the tourism sector. He noted that the successful hosting of significant events like the 2023 Pacific Games has proven the Solomon Islands’ capacity to organize such tournaments, encouraging visitors to explore the islands beyond just the sports competitions.
The tournament’s pool draws have been released, with the Fiji men’s development team placed in Pool A alongside Tuvalu and Nauru. Pool B features the Australian development team, competing against Vanuatu, American Samoa, and the Japan development team. In Pool C, teams include Samoa, Cook Islands, Kiribati, and New Caledonia, while Pool D consists of Tonga, the Solomon Islands, Niue, and Tahiti.
In the women’s division, the Fiji development team will face off against the hosts, the Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu in Pool A. Pool B has Samoa, American Samoa, and Vanuatu, and Pool C is composed of Tonga, the Cook Islands, and Kiribati.
This event not only signifies a thrilling sports competition but also highlights the potential of the Solomon Islands as an attractive destination for future sporting events and tourism, promising to elevate its profile on the global stage.
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