Loloma Heights have hit their stride as they finalise preparations for next week’s landmark Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens, head coach Ratu Peni Ratuvuki said following the Tara’s Supermarket Nausori Sevens yesterday. The Nausori event served as the club’s final tune‑up, Ratuvuki stressed, and the build‑up has already produced visible gains on the field.
“This is just preparation for us,” Ratuvuki said, describing the Nausori Sevens as the ideal platform to sharpen combinations and match fitness ahead of the Marist tournament. “This is our platform as we get ready for next week.” He pointed to improving cohesion among his players, saying the team’s understanding of each other’s play had become evident in every match they contested at Nausori.
Players from Savusavu have responded well to the step up in scale and atmosphere, the coach added, with increased confidence feeding into performances. “Coming from a small town to this kind of atmosphere—it boosts their morale,” Ratuvuki said, noting that exposure to larger venues and stronger opposition has accelerated the group’s growth. He has kept his message simple: enjoy the game while staying focused on the task ahead. “I just told them to go out and enjoy themselves while preparing for next week.”
The lead‑up has not been without its logistical headaches. Ratuvuki flagged the difficulty of securing training grounds away from home as a persistent constraint. “The main challenge is finding a place to train. We don’t have that back home,” he said, underlining a familiar problem for provincial sides who must adapt quickly when moving from smaller communities to central tournament locations.
The Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens — a marquee event on the domestic sevens calendar — will mark its 50th anniversary next week, adding extra significance to Loloma Heights’ preparations. For a team keen to make an impression on a larger stage, strong showings in the Nausori competition are intended to translate into readiness for the heightened pressure and attention the milestone Marist tournament will bring.
Ratuvuki’s comments frame the Nausori Sevens as more than a list of results; it has been a rehearsal for structures, combinations and mental composure. With cohesion improving and morale buoyed by the experience of competing away from Savusavu, Loloma Heights will head into the Marist Sevens hopeful that their recent progress can be converted into competitive performances next week.
As the club completes its final sessions and adjusts to the demands of a bigger tournament, Ratuvuki remains measured in expectation but encouraged by what he has seen. The immediate aim is to maintain the momentum built at Nausori and to ensure logistical setbacks do not blunt the team’s on‑field development when the 50th Fiji Bitter Marist Sevens kicks off.
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