Year 12 student Pooja Chand was among the over 300 fans that converged at TappooCity in Suva yesterday to meet up with Fiji Airways Fijian 7s star halfback Jerry Tuwai and robust winger Aminiasi Tuimaba.

Speaking to SUNsports, Pooja who attends Assemblies of God High School in Kinoya said it was proud moment for her to meet up with Tuwai again.

“Tuwai is an old scholar of Assemblies of God High School and everyone in the school sees him as a leader,” she said.

“I was here to meet him again after being introduced by a friend last year during my birthday.”

Pooja who lives in Caubati, Nasinu, said she always see Tuwai as a family man.

When they shook hands Pooja presented a gift to Tuwai to honour his success at the Hong Kong 7s where he became the first player to win for five years in a row.

“He is an inspiration; I gave him a late birthday gift of a shirt and a birthday card.

“He is so humble and famous but he never shows off and is always humble.

“He is a family man as seen in the back page of the Fiji SUN, where he was parenting his children while the wife is away playing netball for Fiji. It’s hard to find a man like Tuwai nowadays.

“And in television, we see him give thanks to the Lord after the game whether they win or lose.

“This is a man who shows good example to us, because for most students, if we fail in our exams we do not give thanks to the Lord.

“We only give thanks to the Lord when we pass the exam,” she added.

Tuwai and Tuimaba signed posters (prepared by Tappoos) on their historic five in-a-row win in Hong Kong.

LONDON SEVENS

The pools and match schedule have been announced for the hotly anticipated HSBC London Sevens at Twickenham Stadium on 25-26 May in the penultimate round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2019.

While the race for the series title is nearing its climax, Olympic qualification is also at stake as the top four teams in the 2019 series will confirm their place at Tokyo 2020 alongside host nation Japan.

With just 24 points separating series leaders USA from fourth placed South Africa, who were victorious at the previous round of the series in Singapore, the scene is set for a thrilling weekend of sevens action in London.

Host nation England are currently lying in fifth position in the series standings and will be relying on the support of the home crowd as they look to make up ground on the top four and those all-important Olympic qualification spots.

Pool A sees reigning series champions South Africa face Argentina, Canada and Japan. In Pool B Fiji will begin the defence of their London title against Samoa, France and Kenya.

Hosts England are drawn with New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland in Pool C, while current series leaders USA will take on Australia, Spain and Wales in Pool D.

Ireland are the invitation team again in London following their outstanding bronze medal performance last year.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The penultimate round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in London is set to be a thrilling event with the double significance of qualification to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at stake alongside the race for the series title.

“Twickenham Stadium is always a special place for rugby players to perform and we look forward to another weekend of fast, skilful and highly entertaining rugby sevens in front of a large crowd in London.”

WHEN WE PLAY

The Fijians take on Kenya on Saturday, May 25, at 9.36pm. The second pool game against France is on Sunday, May 26 at 12.42am and 3.48am the pool decider against Samoa.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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