The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) has confirmed that its Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team won’t be participating in the HSBC Canada Sevens events in Vancouver {18-19 September} and Edmonton in Singapore {25-26 September} next month because the challenges brought about by COVID-19 restrictions

The Chief Executive Officer John O’Connor highlighted that Fiji Rugby has advised World Rugby that both the Fijian and Fijiana 7s teams have been away from their families in their own bubbles for over five months during their preparation leading to the Olympic Games campaign

“The only way we will be allowed to train now in Fiji and was to apply to get back into our bubbles and start training and considering quarantine requirements both ways and considering player welfare and safety, we concluded that it was not safe to participate in the two tournaments

Fiji Rugby has now set its focus on the 2021/2022 World Rugby Sevens Series which is most likely to begin in December in Dubai and then Cape Town.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver and the Edmonton 7s will include 12 men’s teams alongside a ‘fast four’ women’s competition.

The men’s leg will include core teams Canada, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Kenya, South Africa, Spain and the USA, alongside invitation teams from Chile, Germany and two further teams to be confirmed.

Alongside Fiji, other regular core teams Argentina, Australia, Japan, New Zealand and Samoa are unable to participate.

A strong line-up in the women’s competition sees Olympic silver medalists France take on Canada, Great Britain and the USA.

Feedback: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj