The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is currently seeking explanations from the Fijiana 7s coaches and program manager regarding the team’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Head coach Saiasi Fuli acknowledged that the tournament was disappointing despite the support they received in preparation for the Olympics.
Fuli had three years to train the national team for Paris, with several players participating in their second Olympics, highlighting their experience at the top level.
The 2020 Olympics, held a year later in Tokyo, laid a strong foundation for Fijiana. However, like the Fiji 7s men’s team, they faced challenges in subsequent World SVNS Series seasons.
While the men’s team underwent public scrutiny and coaching changes just four months before the Paris Olympics, Fijiana had stable leadership and a consistent roster from three years ago.
FRU interim chair Peter Mazey stated, “As with all tournaments, we will be conducting a review. This will take place when the team returns from Paris.”
Since Tokyo, Fijiana has struggled to win a title in the World Series but managed to maintain sixth place in the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 series standings.
Their performance varied this season, with a fourth-place finish in Singapore and an 11th-place ranking in Los Angeles in March, showing a lack of consistency.
Expectations for a strong performance in Paris remained despite the mixed results throughout the season.
“The recent results at the Olympics, including defeats to China and Brazil, are indeed disappointing. These outcomes do not reflect the immense talent and hard work of our players and coaching staff. However, we will wait to discuss with the coaches and our program manager once the team returns,” Mazey added.
Fuli’s future with the Fijiana team, which he has coached since 2019, will be determined by the FRU after a review upon the team’s return on Sunday.