“The boys have put in the work, and we’re coming in confident but grounded,” Ratu Filise U21 head coach Selo Sanawa said as his side arrived at the Fiji Bitter Marist 7s, which kicks off today in its 50th edition. Sanawa framed the tournament as both a competitive target and a testing ground for the young squad’s systems and player combinations.
Sanawa said the team’s preparations in recent weeks have been deliberately focused on building consistency across playing structures and ensuring every player understands their role. “We will focus on building consistency in our systems and sharpening the boys’ combinations, making sure every player understands their role,” he told reporters. The emphasis, he added, has been on repeatable team patterns rather than individual flashes of brilliance.
Training has been intense, the coach reported, with sessions designed to replicate the high tempo and pressure of tournament rugby. Coaches worked heavily on fitness, defensive structure and decision-making in tight moments. “We are working hard on ball control, communication, and maintaining composure during the game. We’ve pushed the boys through high-intensity sessions to match tournament conditions, and they’ve responded well,” Sanawa said.
A deliberate blend of youth and experience is a key element of the Ratu Filise approach heading into Marist. Sanawa highlighted that the experienced players’ leadership and composure have been critical for steadying the side, while the younger members are injecting energy and exuberance. “We’ve got a good mix. The experienced players bring leadership and calmness, while the new boys bring energy,” he said, stressing that every squad member has a defined role as the team eyes a strong campaign.
The 50th Fiji Bitter Marist 7s represents an important platform for emerging talent in Fijian sevens rugby, offering repeated match scenarios that test combinations, fitness and in-game decision-making. For Ratu Filise’s U21s, the tournament is positioned as a final tune-up to translate training ground gains into on-field performance when it matters most. Sanawa’s message was clear: confidence tempered by discipline and systematic preparation will be the guiding principle for the week.
As play gets under way, attention will be on whether Sanawa’s emphasis on structured systems and composure under pressure can convert into consistent results amid the knockout intensity and fast turnaround typical of Fiji’s premier sevens carnival. The team’s response in the early pool matches should offer the first indication of how well the revamped combinations and conditioning have taken hold.
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