The Fiji Bitter Sevens Series is set to take place in Kadavu this October, marking an exciting new chapter for grassroots rugby in the islands. The Kadavu Rugby Union will host the inaugural tournament, which will now be known as the Kadavu 7s, shifting from the previous Namalata event to the Tiliva 7s format.
The tournament will kick off the season from October 3-5 at the Namalata Central School ground. Despite the name change, the venue remains the same. Alfaio Tekavei, a sponsorship and events specialist at Paradise Beverages, highlighted the significance of this transition. “Tiliva 7s have been running on their own for several years, even before COVID, and this marks their first sponsorship with Fiji Bitter. We are excited to welcome them into the series,” Tekavei stated.
The launch of the series occurred recently at Paradise Beverages in Walu Bay, where general manager Mike Spencer announced plans for this year’s tournament lineup. “We will once again host 12 tournaments this year in the Fiji Bitter 7s Series, encompassing six legs, each featuring two tournaments. The series will span six months from October to March, with an investment exceeding $300,000,” he explained.
The series will conclude with the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, scheduled for March next year at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The tournament dates are as follows: Kadavu 7s: October 3-5, Malake 7s: October 10-12, Mataso 7s: November 15-16, Yalovata 7s: November 21-23, Yasawa 7s: December 6-7, Wairiki 7s: December 11-14, Labasa 7s: January 9-11, Savusavu 7s: January 16-18, Nahehevia 7s: February 13-15, Tabadamu 7s: February 20-22, Nawaka 7s: March 20-22, and Marist 7s: March 27-29.