Paradise Beverages has committed over $300,000 to support grassroots rugby through the 2024 – 2025 Fiji Bitter seven series. At the launch event, General Manager Mike Spencer highlighted the importance of sponsorships in enabling the company to give back to local communities.
Spencer noted that they have been supporting rugby for 48 years, with their first sponsorship being the Fiji Bitter 7s tournament in 1976. He emphasized their ongoing commitment to fostering rugby development in Fiji and expressed pride in being a part of nurturing talent from grassroots levels to national teams.
“We have witnessed many players from Fiji Bitter-sponsored tournaments go on to represent Fiji in sevens, the Flying Fijians, Fijiana, and even the Fijian Drua franchise,” he remarked, celebrating the successes of these players.
The Fiji Bitter 7s series will consist of 12 tournaments, organized into six legs featuring two tournaments each, spanning from October to March. Spencer extended best wishes to the tournament organizers, teams, and fans for the upcoming series.
Rovereto Nayacalevu, Chief Executive Officer of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), stated that the Fiji Bitter seven series serves as a vital platform for the union to discover new talents. He thanked Paradise Beverages for their 48-year commitment to supporting rugby in Fiji, acknowledging the positive impact their contributions have had on respective communities involved in the series.
The schedule for the 2024-2025 Fiji Bitter Sevens series includes the following tournaments:
– Kadavu 7s – Namalata School Ground, Vunisea (October 3 – 5)
– Malake 7s – Narauyabe Sports Ground, Rakiraki (FSC) (October 10 – 12)
– Mataso 7s – Nadovu Ground, Lautoka (November 15 – 16)
– Yalovata 7s – Nasau Park, Levuka (November 21 -23)
– Yasawa 7s – Churchill Park, Lautoka (December 6 – 7)
– Wairiki 7s – Wairiki Parish Grounds, Taveuni (December 11 – 14)
– Labasa 7s – Subrail Park, Labasa (January 9 – 11)
– Savusavu 7s – Ganilau Park, Savusavu (January 16 – 18)
– Nahehevia 7s – Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka (February 13 – 15)
– Tabadamu 7s – Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori (February 20 – 22)
– Nawaka 7s – Prince Charles Park, Nadi (March 20 – 22)
– Marist 7s – HFC Stadium, Suva (March 27 – 29)