Fuli wary of Langford pool of death

The Fiji Airways Fijiana Sevens team training in Langford on Vancouver Island for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens tournament. Photo: FRU

Fiji Airways Fijiana sevens coach Saiasi Fuli was very wary of the opposition in the pool of death his team is facing against traditional champions New Zealand, the US and England in Pool C this weekend.

“It’s a very tough pool, it’s the pool of death in this Langford tournament,” Fuli said from Langford on Vancouver Island in an FRU media conference.

“We have New Zealand, New Zealand is back, they have been absent for the past four tournaments due to Covid restrictions and the pandemic that affected New Zealand and then they are back,” Fuli said.

“They are the undisputed champions for the past few years and we are pooled with the US who won one of the tournaments in Spain and the entertaining and young English team that played well in both tournaments in Spain.”

The US won gold at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Malaga in Spain and England were bronze medallists at the Seville tournament the week before also in Spain in January.

“Yeah we’re here in Langford, a beautiful city here in Victoria, it’s good that we’re back after the cancellation in the back to back Spain tournaments, it’s quite hard that we had to stay in Fiji but it’s good that we had some rugby,” Fuli said.

“We had six tournaments in Fiji and now we are back in the world 7s arena and ready to play this weekend in the Langford 7s.

“It’s a challenging week for us, we have prepared well doing our homework and doing some research and analysis with our full opposition but it’s good back playing in the international sevens tournament,” Fuli said.

“To have a tough pool it’s very challenging for us.

“It is what it is and we have to focus, prepare well for this Langford tournament.

“I know that there is a lot of talk in regards to our pool but that is rugby.

“To have that competitive nature and quality opposition; it’s good for us it’s good for the tournament and we’re ready and ready to play in that group that has New Zealand, USA and England.”

The three pools format has Australia and Ireland named top seeds of Pool A and Pool B respectively with England as Malaga champions named as the top seed in Pool C.

Pool A has Australia, Canada, Spain and Mexico; while Pool B has Ireland, France, Brazil and Japan.

The Fijiana sevens team plays the USA at 4.30am (FT) on Sunday opening the Langford tournament at Starlight Stadium in Langford outside Victoria, British Columbia.

Fiji Babas make clean sweep in International Mini Sevens tournament at Churchill Park

The Fiji Warriors defend against New Zealand at Churchill Park in Lautoka. Photo: FRU

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.

All Blacks, Australia 7s teams to play Fiji at Churchill Park

The Fijiana team training at the fmf Gymnasium in Suva. Photo: FRU

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

NZ Sevens sides off to Fiji before World Series return

The Black Ferns Sevens celebrate their gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: Photosport

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.

Fiji Rugby grateful for Fijiana Drua inclusion in Australian Super W competition

The Fijiana 7s team won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics. Photo: FRU

Fiji Rugby chief executive John O’Connor said the inclusion of the Fijiana Drua in Buildcorp Super W, Australia’s premier women’s XVs rugby competition, was another historical milestone for the sport in the country.

“We are excited about this opportunity considering that we just kicked off our first organized domestic competition was in 2018,” O’Connor said.    

Fiji 7s teams pull out of Spain 7s

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team won silver medals at the Dubai tournament. Photo: FRU

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.

World Rugby claim differs from local stories on Fiji taking part in Malaga Sevens

The captains of the teams taking part in the Malaga event pose for a photo together. Photo: World Rugby

A story released today in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens series, the Fiji men’s and women’s teams were not traveling to Malaga for the opening tournament of the Spanish leg this weekend.

“Fiji’s men’s and women’s teams were unable to travel to Malaga and have not been replaced, meaning opponents in their respective group matches will receive three match points for a “bye” and a score of 0-0 will be recorded for those games,” the World Rugby story read.

Fiji 7s may take part in Malaga, Seville: O’Connor

The Fiji 7s men’s and women’s teams have been training hard in case they take part in the Malaga tournament this weekend. Photo: FRU

The Fiji Airways men’s and women’s team 7s teams taking part in the Malaga and Seville tournaments of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens World Series will depend on results of Covid 19 testing today for staff and players, says Fiji Rugby Union chief executive John O’Connor.

“The flight has been arranged for Friday and the results will determine if Fiji will take part in the knockout stage of the Malaga tournament,” Mr O’Connor said.

Fijiana 7s include two new players

The Fijiana 7s team won silver medals in Dubai. Photo: FRU

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side has maintained its core players who played in consecutive finals at the Dubai 7s leg last month and named two new players for Spain.

Savusavu lass Verenaisi Bari and Nadroga first five-eight Ivamere Nabura are the two new faces who have been roped in to the traveling squad.

Fijiana faces a fresh challenge in Malaga with inclusion in same pool of Black Ferns

Fijiana forward Reijieli Daveua attacks against the Black Ferns in the Tokyo Olympics semi-final. Photo: World Rugby

The Fiji Airways Fijiana Sevens who played both finals of the opening tournaments of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series will have to readjust in the next leg of the series with the inclusion of champions Black Ferns Sevens.

Tokyo Olympics gold medallists the Blacks Ferns has been included with the Olympics bronze medallists Fijiana in Pool B of the Malaga Sevens tournament which also includes the USA and Canada.