Fiji Airways Fiji 7s Men’s captain Jerry Matana underscored humility and faith as the keys to his team’s win after their commanding 19-5 victory over Spain in the Emirates Dubai 7s final today.
Reflecting on the team’s performance, Matana highlighted the importance of respecting every opponent. Speaking after the match, he revealed his pre-tournament message to the team: “Let us not look down on others. The God we serve often uses what is despised to show His power. I reminded the boys — let us not look down on the Spain team, or God might use them to humble us. Let us not belittle others but continue to move forward.”
Spain, appearing in their first-ever HSBC SVNS final, gave Fiji an early scare with Pol Pla scoring his 101st international try to take the lead. However, Fiji rallied, with Filipe Sauturaga’s equaliser setting the stage for second-half tries by Jeremaia Matana and Ilikimi Vunaki to secure the title.
For Matana, the win was deeply personal, marking a significant milestone in his leadership journey. “Coach was the last one to lead the team to victory in Dubai in 2015, and now, as captain, I feel honoured to have been chosen to lead the boys this weekend. I am grateful to the coach for placing his trust in me.”
The victory ended Fiji’s 22-tournament title drought, dating back to Toulouse in 2022, and marked their first Dubai crown since 2015. Fiji coach Osea Kolinisau described the win as a breakthrough moment for the team.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Kolinisau said. “I’m so happy for the boys. We’ve got the monkey off our back now. We want to be consistent. We’ve worked really hard these last six months. I told the boys hard work pays off, and it paid off here.”
Fiji narrowly overcame reigning Olympic champions France 19-17 in the quarter-finals before dismantling Argentina 43-21 in the semi-finals.
Matana also dedicated the victory to Fiji’s supporters and sponsors, saying, “To our families, thank you so much for your support and prayers. To our fans, thank you so much for your prayers and unwavering support. This victory is for you. To Fiji Airways and Fiji Water, thank you so much for your support.”
The team now turns its focus to Cape Town, where the second round of the HSBC SVNS 2025 series will take place on December 7-8 (Mai TV Will Air Fiji Games and the Finals). Fiji has been drawn into Pool A alongside Great Britain and Uruguay, as they aim to carry their Dubai momentum into the next stage of the season.
Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Australia defeated Olympic champions New Zealand 28-24 for their fifth successive women’s tournament victory in Dubai.
