Ravuka Sharks Impress with Stifling Defence at Coral Coast Fiji 7s

The performance of the Ravuka Sharks at last week’s McDonald’s Coral Coast Fiji 7s has garnered significant attention, prompting Fiji men’s 7s coach Osea Kolinisau to highlight their impressive play. Kolinisau expressed admiration for the Sharks’ defensive strategy, particularly during their matches against the New Zealand Development 7s team, where their resilience and quick recovery on defense ultimately secured their victory.

“The defence of Ravuka (Sharks), like their enthusiasm in defence, they bounced back quickly, and it showed against New Zealand; defence won them that game,” Kolinisau noted, emphasizing the excitement he felt watching their energetic defensive execution.

Central to the Sharks’ success was the leadership of their head coach, former Fiji 7s player Etonia Naba. Kolinisau praised the effective defensive structure that Naba instilled in the team. “It all goes back to their coach, Etonia Naba, the work he’s doing, and I really like the shape of defence they were showing,” Kolinisau explained, underscoring the impact of Naba’s coaching on their performance.

During the tournament, the Sharks demonstrated their prowess by winning all their pool matches, including a significant 22-7 victory against New Zealand, a narrow 10-5 win over Y-Is Kava Vacalea, and a dominating 43-0 win over Bula Bay 7s. They continued their strong showing in the men’s cup quarter-final with a 24-7 triumph over New Zealand, followed by a close 14-12 win against the McDonald’s Mike Friday Select 7s in the semi-final. However, their impressive run concluded with a cup final appearance against the Yaro Chiefs, where they ultimately fell short, losing 12-28.

In a related development, the Fiji Babas, serving as the shadow national 7s team and also coached by Kolinisau, celebrated their victory as bowl winners at the Coral Coast 7s. This success reflects the depth of talent within Fiji’s rugby scene and highlights the positive trajectory of both the Ravuka Sharks and the Fiji Babas as they prepare for future competitions.