Fiji will host the 2017 Oceania Sevens Championship as well as successive competitions in 2018 and 2019.

Oceania Rugby and World Rugby, rugby services manager Oceania, Bruce Cook, made the announcement at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva yesterday.

“The Oceania Sevens Championship is the blue-ribbon event for Oceania Rugby in their competition space,” Cook said.

“I am excited to mention today that with the support of the Fijian government – Fiji will host the event this year in 2018 and also 2019.”

The men’s competition will see 13 teams from around the region vying for the title, while eight teams will compete in the women’s championship.

Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Bale Tuitubou said Fiji’s hosting the event comes after great success in recent years.

“We see this as building on the outstanding success of rugby in the Olympic Games last year and supporting the bid by the FRU to host a leg of the World Sevens Series here on our doorsteps,” Tuitubou said.

Minister Tuitubou went on to express the important role sevens rugby has in the Fijian society.

“We all know that sevens is a way of life and as the honourable Prime Minister said sevens rugby is simply a part of the fabric of society,” he said.

“We are committed to showcase our country to an international audience in order to attract more tourists, increase investment and instil growing confidence in our expanding economy.”

From left; Oceania Rugby and World Rugby rugby services manager Bruce Cook, Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou, Oceania Rugby Board independant director for women’s rugby Cathy Wong and Fiji Rugby Union chief executive officer John O’Connor at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on September 19, 2017. Photo: Kogo Fujiki

Fiji Rugby Union

Fiji Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer John O’Connor said this year’s event is an exciting step forward for Fiji rugby.

“We are very delighted to again work with Oceania Rugby in hosting the 2017 Oceania Rugby Sevens tournament,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor is hopeful for Fiji’s bid to host the HSBC Sevens World Series.

“Our big plan for Fiji Rugby Union is to win the bid to host the World Rugby Sevens Series leg in 2020,” he said.

“By after the third year, 2019, we are confident and quite hopeful that we will be hosting the next leg of the men’s and maybe women’s which are also considering at this stage.

“We have demonstrated that we have the ability both in terms of technical and administrative support to host such an event.”

Oceania Women’s Rugby

Oceania Rugby Board independent director of women’s rugby, Cathy Wong said the Oceania Sevens Competition is a wonderful opportunity for women to showcase their abilities.

“World rugby aims to be a global leader in sport, where women involved in rugby have equity on and off the field,” Wong said.

“Competitions like this, the Oceania Sevens, will drive the development and we can also use these games to measure the success of our developments programs.

“This is an opportunity to for women to showcase what they’re capable of doing.”

Wong strongly encourages all Fijians to come and enjoy the championship.

“I on behalf of Oceania Rugby would like to make a strong plea to everyone out there in Fiji – come down and support your rugby men and women,” she said.

“This is a time for you to support the team and if you want to show your support for the bid for Fiji to host the HSBC series it starts now.”

The 2017 Oceania Sevens Championship will take place at the ANZ Stadium in Suva from November 10 to November 11.

One day tickets for non-grandstand are $5 with grandstand tickets $10.

Edited  by  Anasilini Ratuva

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