Team Fiji national sevens rugby team received $97,500 from the Government yester­day for winning the silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia last month.

The 13 players pocketed $7500 each from the Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou in Suva.

The Seremaia Tuwai-captained side lost to New Zealand in the gold medal playoff 0-14 at Robina Stadi­um on April 15.

Tuitubou applauded the team’s performance at the Commonwealth Games and the World Sevens Series winning four tournaments in Ham­ilton, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Singapore and currently leads the series table with 145 points.

“Your dedication, perseverance and teamwork has motivated many youths to take sports seriously and provided them a chance to dream to aspire in representing their coun­try,” Tuitubou said.

“I wish to remind the team, coach and administrators that this is not the end of the line. We must win the world series title,” he said.

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s rep Jasa Veremalua(rep) receives his cheque from Minister of Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou in Suva on May 9,2018. Photo: Ronald Kumar

Team manager Jone Niurua ac­knowledges the Government for the pay-out.

“ On behalf of Fiji Rugby Union and head coach Gareth Baber and the Fijian 7s team, we would like to thank you for your support, we want to give the glory and honour to Almighty God for giving us the glory and honour,” Niurua said.

Niurua admits the G-factor as the strength behind the team.

“We nearly saw God physically on the field in Singapore from the Cup quarterfinal, semifinal and in the final,” Niurua said.

The team is currently camping at Uprising Beach Resort, Pacific Harbour in preparation for the London-Paris leg of the World Sev­ens Series next month.

Edited by Osea Bola

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