Fiji’s national 7s women and men’s coaches will be meeting the Fiji Rugby Union upon their return to the country on Thursday.
The FRU Trust Board revealed this in a statement issued today, following Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s comments about the team’s performance midst concerns from fans, including former players over the Fiji 7s men’s team’s close-to 20th loss on the trot in the HSBC 7s Series.
Rabuka reportedly told local media of the government’s intention to call a meeting if the FRU did not address the team’s performance and arising concerns.
But in the statement issued around 6 pm, the FRU Trust stated that it would be meeting with both team officials Thursday to review both teams’ performances at the Vancouver and Los Angeles 7s tournaments, adding that they stood “by the teams and will fully support them with resources needed for the teams’ mission of standing on this year’s Olympic Games podium to receive medals.”
“Both the Fiji Airways Fijian 7s and Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s teams are determined to continue their pursuit of excellence as they prepare for the Olympic Games in France.”
The FRUTB also highlighted that they had started on their review dating back to the Dubai/Cape Town and Perth tournaments, identifying areas for further improvement. This included the recruitment of a Strength and Conditioning consultant, before the Vancouver tournament, to enhance fitness programs and strengthen the coaching team. For the women, strategies identified included increasing their player pool and implementing a performance tracking system.
“We are exploring options that involve Fijian coaches and align with our vision for success,” the FRUTB stated, adding that “the team remains resolute in their commitment to excellence and their goal of clinching the Gold Medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.”
The Fiji 7s men’s team last won in 2022, at the Toulouse Sevens on May 20-22.
