Defending women’s Fiji Bitter Marist 7s champions Navy have been handed a tough assignment after the draw for this week’s 50th tournament placed them in Group C alongside Loloma Heights, Lilian Amazons and Striders. The grouping sets up an early test for Navy as they look to retain the title they claimed in dramatic fashion last year.
Navy secured the 2023 crown with a 19-15 win over Marist Seahawks, snatching victory in the final minute. As the tournament marks its half-century milestone, all eyes will be on whether the Navy side can replicate that late-game poise against a compact pool of challengers.
Pool A contains Tagimoucia Ranadi, Police, Marist Seahawks and Sinukakala Amazons, while hosts Marist, Dartmouth, Exers and Colo-i-Suva make up Group B. The draw means several strong and well-known domestic sides will be vying for early momentum across three venues this week.
The Marist 7s will be staged across the HFC Stadium, Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds over Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the main ground carrying key fixtures. The week’s opening clash at the main arena will see Lilian Amazons take on Navy at 8am on day one, a match that could set the tone for how the defending champions navigate their pool.
Fans unable to attend in person can follow the action via VITI+. All matches at the HFC Stadium will be available on the streaming service across the three days for a fee of $79 FJD. Ticketing and access arrangements for the Buckhurst and Bidesi grounds were not detailed in the draw release.
With a compact schedule and multiple strong sides in each pool, Navy’s route to a consecutive title will require consistency from the start. The early meeting with Lilian Amazons presents an immediate measuring stick for the champions; depending on that result, the remainder of Group C is likely to produce tightly contested matches as teams jostle for quarterfinal positions.
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