Two bonus cheques totaling to $24,000 were presented to the Vodafone Fijian 7s team yesterday by Vodafone at the Nadi International Airport.

They received $20,000 for winning the Dubai leg of the World 7s series while $4000 for the Cape Town tournament.

Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou handed-over the cheque to the team at the airport together with friends, families and well wishers as they gathered to welcome them home.

Mr Tuitubou while congratulating the boys at the airport said the Government was proud of the boys and thanked them for their die-hard effort.

“As the slogan goes, we win together and we lose together,” Mr Tuitubou said.

“The Government supports you and will continue to support you from January 1 till December next year as we head into another series of games and not forgetting the Rio Olympics.”

He wished the team all the very best in the next sevens game in Wellington next year and thanked the team for a job well done.

Fiji Rugby Union representative and National Rugby Union chairman Sekove Tuilakeba said the last weeks have been very exciting for everyone.

“During the tournaments we had witnessed some exciting and breathtaking sevens rugby from our gladiators, which most of us have been satisfied with.”

He said this was a testament of the hardwork put in by the management team headed by head coach Ben Ryan.

“On behalf of the rugby family in Fiji and the fans I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank and congratulate our mighty champions for a gallant performance,” Mr Tuilakeba said.

He also thanked the Government and the sponsors for their wonderful support to the team that enabled them to perform exceptionally well in setting the benchmark to the rest of the world.