EDITORIAL: Let’s Cheer For Fijiana 7s As Sevens Series Starts
Yes, the start of the 2018/19 HSBC World Sevens Series is around the corner.
The action gets underway at the USA Women’s Sevens on October 20-21 at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado.
This is where our Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s team and 10 series core teams plus the invitational Mexico team will battle it out.
According to World Rugby the stage is set for a thrilling weekend, a first time for sevens rugby fans after the Rugby World Cup Sevens at the AT&T Park in San Francisco in July.
What makes this Series interesting is that this is the first on the road towards the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan.
World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said: “The addition of Glendale, the women’s series increases to six rounds this year, in line with World Rugby ambitions to provide more high-quality competition under the wider Women’s Plan 2017-25.
“With the world series also acting as principal route for qualification for Tokyo 2020, we expect this season to be more competitive than ever as teams compete for a place at the Olympic Games,“ the former England forward said.
“After an outstanding Rugby World Cup Sevens in San Francisco, which attracted record audiences, we are delighted to be back in the US and looking forward to watching an action-packed weekend of high octane and fast-paced sevens rugby.”
For our Fijiana 7s team, this is a new start under interim coach Ro Alivereti Doviverata.
The former Flying Fijians captain has already laid down the rules to our women who are chasing for a spot in the team.
It’s all about guts and glory.
After a dismissal performance at the 2017/18 Series and again at the Rugby World Cup Sevens the challenge is there for Ro Doviverata and the team to change things around.
With the final squad expected to be named this week, their mission is not getting any easier because they are in Pool C with France, Canada and Ireland. Defending champion Australia tops Pool A with Russia, Spain and Mexico while in Pool B are New Zealand, USA, China and England.
But nothing is impossible if our Fijiana side is focused on the task ahead, do the basics right, defend well and play according to the game plan.
That’s the way to go and let’s wish Ro Doviverata and our Fijiana 7s team all the best in their first assignment in Colorado.
Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj
