Day one of round six on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series men’s circuit in Vancouver, Canada, threw up some great rugby on Saturday.
In the end, Fiji, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina won their pools to progress to the Cup quarter-finals at BC Place along with runners-up England, Samoa, Australia and France.
Read the rest of this entry »
All 16 core teams on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series have arrived in Vancouver this week ahead of the highly anticipated HSBC Canada Sevens on 17-18 April at BC Place stadium.
The team captains visited the Chief Joe Mathias Center in North Vancouver on Wednesday where they were greeted by a Squamish First Nation Elder and met Squamish artist Ray Natraoro who has designed the medals for this year’s tournament.
Read the rest of this entry »
Fiji’s victory at the Singapore Sevens last weekend was remarkable on a number of levels.
The Olympic champions were playing in their first World Series tournament since Dubai and were given a rude awakening with a first-ever defeat to Ireland in their opening game.
Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Head Coach Ben Gollings has named an exciting pack as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series resumes in Singapore followed by Vancouver 7s.
This is the first team selected by Gollings since he was appointed as the Head Coach in December.
The Fiji Babas made a clean sweep in the two-day Fiji Rugby International Mini Sevens tournament in Lautoka defeating New Zealand, Australia and the Fiji Warriors twice each in the six-rounds of matches.
The Fiji Babas defeated second place New Zealand in the third round on Friday 22-10 and the third round on Saturday 17-10; defeated Australia 22-12 and 17-5 on Friday and Saturday respectively and the Fiji Warriors 15-5 and 26-12 on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Read the rest of this entry »
The Fiji Rugby Union today confirmed that the New Zealand 7s men’s and women’s teams are in the country to participate in a mini-tournament against Fiji Airways Fijian and Fijiana 7s teams.
The competition will also include the Australian men’s team who are expected to arrive in the country this weekend.
FRU Chief Executive John O’Connor said they have arranged this competition so that the teams get much-needed game time and tournament practice before the next leg of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Vancouver and Singapore.
“The All Blacks 7s women’s team will also feature in the Leg 3 of Fun Flavour Super 7s Series in Nadi which kicks off on Thursday at Prince Charles Park,” O’Connor said.
The visitors from New Zealand replace Waitui Waidroka who are sitting at the bottom of the Women’s ranking after the last two legs. They are in Pool A with Army, Valkyries and Marist.
Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Head Coach Ben Gollings said it’s fantastic that they could host Australia and New Zealand here in Fiji.
“It’s good for us both on and off the field and it is very important for our preparation. It will also provide us a much-needed hit out against international opposition leading into the next two legs,” Gollings said.
“We will be able to get a gauge on how we are tracking and its valuable experience for our players who have not played a lot of international rugby.”
Gollings said that both teams have not played a lot of rugby during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been particularly difficult for New Zealand as they have been starved of the ability to play games.
“Both teams will be relishing the opportunity to play games and put all the hard work and practice out on the field,” Gollings said.
“The great thing about 7s is that although we are opponents on the field there is always a willingness to support each other’s game.”
Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Head Coach Saiasi Fuli also shared the same sentiments.
“It will be good to play against the Olympic Gold Medalists the All Blacks 7s team leading up to next two legs in Langford and Toulouse,” Fuli said.
“Both teams will be able to gauge their fitness, game plans, and set pieces during the two days of the tournament in Lautoka.”
All Blacks 7s Head Coach Clark Laidlaw said:
“We are so excited to travel to Fiji and have the opportunity to play live rugby against such quality oppositions.
“It is crucial to get live rugby again and give our team the excitement and energy live rugby brings.
“It has been a very difficult period for our teams not being able to travel and play and we are extremely grateful that Fiji Rugby is helping us with this opportunity to prepare for the World Rugby Sevens Series events coming up as well as starting our preparation for Commonwealth Games and World Cup.”
All Blacks 7s women’s Head Coach Cory Sweeney said:
“Black Fern 7s have not played in a tournament against international teams since the Olympic Games in 2021, and what better team to test ourselves against than Fiji.
“One of the best 7s teams in the World.
“We are extremely appreciating of the support Fiji Rugby has shown us and the openness for us to enter the local tournament which will hopefully benefit all teams involved.
“We have an exciting group of young players traveling to Fiji who has been waiting for an opportunity to play on the international stage for a while and now they get to test themselves against some of the best players in the game.”
Australian 7s men’s Head Coach John Manenti also thanked Fiji Rugby and believes it’s an excellent learning curve for all teams participating before the international meet.
“We are a young team that’s still finding our way on the world stage with only 3 players in our squad having played more than 10 World Series events.”
Find below the fixtures of the tournament at Churchill Park.
Day 1, 18th March, 2022
10.00 Fijiana V NZ Women
10.20am Fiji Babas V Australia
10.40am Fiji Warriors V New Zealand
1.30pm Fijiana V New Zealand
1.50pm Fiji Babas V Fiji Warriors
4.10pm New Zealand V Australia (M)
5.00pm Fijiana V New Zealand 
5.20pm Fiji Babas V Australia
5.40pm Fiji Warriors V New Zealand
Day 2 – 19TH March, 2022
10.00am Fijiana 7s V New Zealand
10.20am Fiji Babas V Australia
10.40am Fiji Warriors V New Zealand
1.30pm Fijiana V New Zealand
1.50pm Fiji Babas V Fiji Warriors
2.10pm New Zealand V Australia
5.00pm Fijiana V New Zealand
5.20pm Fiji Warriors V Australia
5.40pm Fiji Babas V New Zealand
The All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns Sevens will return to international action in Fiji this month, before rejoining the World Series after two years away.
Read the rest of this entry »
There has been widespread condemnation of convicted rapist and Fiji rugby sevens star Amenoni Nasilasila’s inclusion at a local tournament last weekend.
He was jailed for eight years in 2019 for raping a 24-year-old woman at Olosara, Sigatoka on 22 December, 2018.
Read the rest of this entry »
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor today announced the appointment of former Flying Fijians centre and 2005 Sevens Rugby World Cup winner Viliame Satala as one of the assistant coaches for the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team.
“This is a totally new approach from head coach Ben Gollings,” O’Connor said.
Read the rest of this entry »
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor in a Fiji Rugby Union press statement said he was disappointed the Fiji Airways Fijian men’s and women’s 7s teams but put the safety of those involved as priority.
“It’s disappointing not to have the Men’s and Women’s team play in Spain but the safety and welfare of everyone involved is always the priority and we thank the Ministry of Health for their support and guidance in this regard,” O’Connor said.
The Fijian men’s team was planning to travel for the Seville 7s today and arrive in Spain on Saturday.
“Our day four tests’ results had only a player from the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team test positive as such we were very confident of sending the Team for the Seville 7s provided all the other players continue to test negative in the exits tests yesterday,” O’Connor said..
“Unfortunately, tests results received yesterday had other players and management in both camps test positive making it impossible to travel to Spain with a full Team.
“We did not expect such results, but such is the nature and the ease of spread of the current variant of COVID 19.”
O’Connor highlighted that the players and management who initially tested positive have now tested negative and that all the players and management staff who have now tested positive are all well and remain asymptomatic.
He also thanked World Rugby for giving the Fiji Airways 7s Team an opportunity to play a few matches in Malaga this weekend as the team was expected to arrive on Saturday and to fully participate in Servile 7s next weekend but highlighted that this was no longer possible because of the latest tests results.
O’Connor confirmed that once all the players were cleared, they would return to train safely with their respective clubs in preparation for the deferred Fun Flavor Super Sevens Series which was now planned for February 3-5 in Nadi prior to commencing preparation for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Vancouver 7s in April.
fiji post blog 